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Album REVIEW |
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01.
APNOIA
Length: 53:11 (min:secs)
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Having only been in existence for 18 months and following on from their 2007 debut, here we find the Austrian metallers The Sorrow back with a new album entitled “Origin Of The Storm”. And these guys from the Voralberg region prefer to hammer on the tails of the US metalcore bands rather than the more traditional mainland European genres of extreme black, death or technical metal. They kick-off with “Where Is The Sun?” a very Killswitch Engage influenced sound of heavy guitar chugging, punctuated by high notes of detailed riffery and then into a classic huge melodic chorus. This track gives you a very good idea of what this release is about and it is obvious from the start that it’s going to be one hell of a no messing, heavy album. “Scars” takes them along a more thrashy direction but again with a well balance mix of aggression and melody, and this time sounding reminiscent of Scottish thrashers Mendeed with the classic Iron Maiden-esque guitars melodies. “Eyes Of the Darkness” continues with more of the harmonised choruses and “Raising The Devil” begins to blend the thrash with Killswitch metalcore chugging and maintains the harmonies both in vocals and the Maiden-esque guitars. “Anchor In The Storm” takes a brief diversion into a more contemporary sound and comes across as the most original sounding song on the album, moving away from the more stylised feeling of many of the other tracks and onto something that is far more epic, intensifying and sophisticated. The rest of the album places us back on the more familiar footing, switching between well executed thrash and metalcore, with plenty of breathtaking journeys through ear bashing territory that should set alight any mosh pit. This is an album of crushing heaviness, rampaging guitars, thundering drums and pulverising bass lines. Accompanied by vocals that go from throat slitting to sublime melody it really is a treat for anyone who enjoys the thrash of Testament, the metalcore of Killswitch Engage as well as Trivium, and the guitar harmonies of Iron Maiden. It really is a feast of metalcore chugging, but that is where it could fall short as you feel it really needs greater variety and more diversity of songs like “Anchor In The Storm” to maintain the wider interest of many listening to almost an hour long album.
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- Dave Yates
(15th February, 2009) |
Mathias Schlegel - vox, guitar
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