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MENDEED LP REVIEW |
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01.
ALL THAT WE HAVE BECOME (3:37)
Length: 59:48 (min:secs)
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Mendeed Reviews:
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The Scottish metallers are back with their first full length album and they continue to develop their quite distinctive sound, again with the rock solid Mark Daghorn on production duties. They've been regular favourites over the last few years on these pages and have done nothing but enhance that status with this release. Their sound manages to make a refined amalgamation of old school Testament and Metallica variety thrash, modernised with aggressive hardcore skirmishes Stampin’ Ground style and garnished with some of the most magical traditional British metal elements this side of Iron Maiden. Its a potent brew of the best knock-your-hat-off, peat fuelled single malt available - smooth yet modestly powerful with bags of character, although quickly followed by a pint of heavy. The songs are often highly aggressive, under fire of a hailstone of drums and deathly vocals but at the flick of a plectrum propelled into howling wails of melodic guitar solos and harmonised vocals constructing a chorus to die for. Riffs that would hurl chunks out of all but the hardest of mosh pits and will have every moron in the crowd flailing their arms and legs about like Bruce Lee with CJD. And there's a wonderful touch of magic with "For Blasphemy We Bleed" that features guest vocals from the former Matter throat Dom Lawson, which is not only awesome but also guarantees a good review from Kerrang! :-) The development continues with confidence and they have enough of it now to include a multitude of new sounds and experiences into their music including cello, viola, violin and a gospel choir! But don't think that they have turned out a pile of indulgent pish aka Metallica 'S&M' because that would be way off mark. They have been used intelligently and with restraint to add depth and texture to selected songs, rather than dominate them or try to prove a point. They have also created a wonderful Celtic atmosphere throughout the album, at times it feels distinctly so and not just with the themed intro's and outro's, and it always retains a ballsy British character. This album definitely shows a significant move forward in honing their sound and bounds ahead with masses of self-belief. It puts them in great stead for a move onto the wider territory of Europe - which they are about to tour - and at a later date for America. They are a hard working bunch and deserve to do well.
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- Rigsby
(9th October, 2006) |
