Technologist are a progressive metal band from Manchester and this 32 minute concept record tells the story of the titular character, who fights to protect a corrupted planet, where the ecosystem is collapsing and it's on the brink of destruction. I guess you could call it 'enviro-metal' (send a cheque in the post if you want the genre tag) but Reborn is really the sound of a five piece who draw from the modern style of prog metal that is spearheaded by the likes of Haken, Caligula's Horse et al.
From the start-stop riffs on the title track, the vocals that switch between soaring cleans and deep growls, this record has buckets full of melody with harmonic guitars met with chugging riffs from Eddie Barton-Johnson and Josh Fisher. Deception brings some relentless drumming from Craig Stubbins and fat grooves from Phil Jolly as things get heavier before the catharsis rings out of Brothers, Andy Lavender's vocals racked with pain and emotion. Technologist just seem to have every element locked in to make them a massive deal in the prog metal world, take notice of their first conceptual musical offering. 8/10
My Torment - My Torment (Self Released)
Henry English has pulled a blinder here! My Torment are essentially his solo project, he plays all of the instruments on the record but unlike a lot of solo projects he's outsourced the vocals, bringing in Turkish singer Berzan Onen in what turns out to be one of the defining positives of this record. It's a debut of aggressive US thrash metal which has some power and death metal in there as well. Similar to band such as Forbidden, Sanctuary and early IE (the band that shall not be named), this is a record that has biting riffs, some thumping bottom end and vocals chock full of Warrel Dane/Matt Barlow histrionics.
From the opening moments of Hate Incarnate until Final Curtain, Onen uses the full power of his lungs, as there's doom on Life-Pain while Silence Is The End takes it into some more theatrical movements with Become Fear ups the aggression with low tuned riffs and growls. Though it's not all about the vocals though as English is a hell of a player, his guitar skills are in no doubt, riffing hard and soloing with plenty of virtuosity, which you can pinpoint on the final instrumental March Of The Bog King while on Alone In The Void he showcases the slow more dramatic side.
My Torment's debut record is a labour of love, an instrumentalist with high level skills and a vocalist who sings like some of the best in the game. Here's hoping for more and perhaps the foundation of a proper band to tour with. 7/10
Exaust - Abysmal Earth (Self Released)
South Wales Bloodstock Metal To The Masses finalists Exaust return with yet another thrash attack. After playing Day Of Wreckoning at Patti Pavillion and just about leaving it standing as well as tours with Inhuman Nature, Overpower and Thrasherwolf the band from Cwmbran are on a mission to get their names mentioned in the same vein as the current crop of crossover thrashers such as Power Trip, Enforced, High Command and Grove Street.
They're on the right track with their second EP Abysmal Earth exploding out of the gates with the crushing No Longer Human a slow heavy crush from the Obituary songbook, the hardcore influence coming on the blistering Murder Messiah as the speed breaks down again into another low hanging chug as My Volition punches hard on the way out, perfect noises for soon kicks and countless circle pits.
They've had a line up change since their the first EP and this has given them some more potency as the guitars of Dan and Evan carve things up when it's fast and give plenty of aggression when it slows down, the pace dictated by Ethan's percussion, Mighty's bass grunting on the middle of Sworn To Silence as vocalist Dewi barks every single word with venom.
Abysmal Earth sees these South Wales thrashers refine their violence with odes to the big boys. 8/10
Collision Point - A Burning World (Self Released)
A band who come from Hull and play music from Hell, well nearly, they play thrash/groove that mixes in a little bit of NWOBHM. Imagine if you will Machine Head with a bit more clean vocals and you'll be there. They've been a band since 2016 and A Burning World is their debut album but this is a version that has been remastered to give it a bit more guts.
This new sonic approach befits the more melodic overtones of Betrayal where the clean moments at the beginning shifts into a Motorhead-like thunder, while A Vicious Cycle brings a more epic, dark tone with flashes of a band like Deftones as they move into Maiden-like gallop. The variety of influences here makes for interesting listening but the vocals are a little off occasionally, though it's not a great problem if you like things a little raw.
A Burning World is a great 8 track riffy thrash/groove record from the depths of Hull. 7/10
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