This is an odd one, following up their 2023 record Fearless, Canadian proggers Crown Lands release a pair of EP's inspired by the music of the Indigenous American people. Something of a detour while they work on their new full length, this is a totally instrumental affair, the duo of Cody Bowles (drums) and Kevin Comeau (multi-instrumentalist) entering the studio with traditional instruments/musicians alongside their own to capture the sounds of the earliest forms of music to come from their country.
Of course only a prog rock band could really do this justice and as much of Crown Lands music and lyrical content in the past has been based around the plight of the Indigenous people and the fight they have to reclaim their lands and their identity, it's only fitting that the band would be able to release music like this. The session was very swift with only a few play throughs of each track on the day, the last take with one exception was the one used on this record and as part of the live film.
Though a slight musical detour from the sci-fi conceptual prog of their other releases, here Crown Lands again showcase their virtuoso musicianship in another way. 7/10
Heads For The Dead - Never Ending Night Of Terror (Pulverised Records) [GC]
If there were ever two things that fit perfectly together, death metal and horror movies are a definite match, since the dawn of the genre the use of horror has always played heavily on the scene, some have sounded great and others have made it seem shit, you can listen to them yourself and wok out who is who, as I have the latest album Never Ending Night Of Terror from ‘’horror metal of death’’ (their EXACT words, not mine) band Heads For The Dead to listen to and see where they fit in!
As expected, we get a small horror movie intro on The Vastness Of Time, but it doesn’t really soften the blow of the music, which is a full blooded, chaotic but also focused onslaught that has all the elements that make a good death metal track so appealing, Death Mask is more of a slow burn to start when compared as it doesn’t explode out of the blocks and has a slower more measured approach, it doesn’t take long for it to kick into gear and has sections with an absolute monster of a riff that really get under your skin but its not used enough and the variations of sounds just all just sound too far apart and make the song sound way too busy in places!
As expected, we get a small horror movie intro on The Vastness Of Time, but it doesn’t really soften the blow of the music, which is a full blooded, chaotic but also focused onslaught that has all the elements that make a good death metal track so appealing, Death Mask is more of a slow burn to start when compared as it doesn’t explode out of the blocks and has a slower more measured approach, it doesn’t take long for it to kick into gear and has sections with an absolute monster of a riff that really get under your skin but its not used enough and the variations of sounds just all just sound too far apart and make the song sound way too busy in places!
Phantasmagoria was a form of horror theatre used back in ye olden days (it's also a song by Annihilator - Ed), and the atmospheric nature of the track echoes the pomp and bravado of what you might think it would be like to witness but there is also just enough heaviness and attitude to never make it sound too pretentious. In Disgust We Trust is then a short, grinding track that whizzes by and really ups the ante after a slight down turn, the pace is ramped back up and its job done in just over 90 seconds.
Then they go the complete opposite of the spectrum on Never Ending Night Of Terror which in all honesty is just a bit too long for its own good, it incorporates elements of doom as well as it can and is a decent track but it just feels like it drags on far too long and never really has a focal point that draws you in and makes you want to keep listening, this could have easily been 2 minutes shorter than it is, I’m sure there is some grand idea behind the song but I just don’t think its paid off!
Give Me Life threatens to continue with the slower pace but once the horror movie sample has finished it does pick its feet up and gets moving but here something is just not connecting with me, I enjoy the savage side of death metal and this has a little bit too much subtlety for my liking, don’t get me wrong some if it is really heavy and scratches the itch but just not enough of it is hitting the marks for my tastes, Harvester fares slightly better as it doesn’t really try to be anything more than a brutal death metal track and for the most part it does its job but again I just feel its lacking something to really push it on further.
The Shape Of Light Bleeds Black once again tries to ramp up the atmosphere and grandiosity of everything but is just a bit of a mid-paced chugathon that lacks a little in personality and never really grabs my attention fully and when your getting bored midway through 4 minute tracks then there is definitely something missing. To The Very Last does get things moving with a bit of purpose and force again and is a much needed shot in the arm, there is no fiddling or pissing about and it really, really benefits the track greatly, then I don’t even know what to say about Witchkreig it’s a tribute to Goblin who are an Italian prog band apparently and the wailing keyboards we get treated to at the start and interspersed throughout do nothing for me or the track as a whole and its just a weird end to the album.
For me there was just enough on Never Ending Night Of Horror to enjoy and not slate it because what I did enjoy was very good death metal but the bits I didn’t like, of which there were a fair few just made some it sound tedious and drawn out. I would say this is worth a listen once, but I highly doubt I will ever look it out again now I have finished this review. 6/10
Agriculture - The Spiritual Sound (The Flenser) [Mark Young]
For me there was just enough on Never Ending Night Of Horror to enjoy and not slate it because what I did enjoy was very good death metal but the bits I didn’t like, of which there were a fair few just made some it sound tedious and drawn out. I would say this is worth a listen once, but I highly doubt I will ever look it out again now I have finished this review. 6/10
Agriculture - The Spiritual Sound (The Flenser) [Mark Young]
Just what is ecstatic black metal? Absolutely no idea. It looks like I’m going to find out over the course of the next 44 minutes.
44 minutes later.
Ok, so I’m not completely sold on this. If you asked me what it sounds like, I’d say it sounds like them and nobody else. I haven’t a frame of reference to compare against, what I do know is that the music here bounces between amazing and infuriating. I don’t know If that is the effect they wanted because when you think about what extreme music should do is elicit a strong response from the listener, either a positive or negative one. Its unique in that the way they have put these together and whether it sits within the black metal spectrum is up to others to argue.
My Garden starts off like a tornado that has been trapped, solid riff with a batshit lead over it and then straight into a crunching guitar. Vocals come in like fingernails on a blackboard, so far so black metal. Its as it progresses that certain cues that this is not your standard fare, the way it sounds and the way its attacked. The cleans that come in mid-way spring out of nowhere, wrong footing until the pendulum swings back towards the starting point, grinding out before that clean refrain returns.
44 minutes later.
Ok, so I’m not completely sold on this. If you asked me what it sounds like, I’d say it sounds like them and nobody else. I haven’t a frame of reference to compare against, what I do know is that the music here bounces between amazing and infuriating. I don’t know If that is the effect they wanted because when you think about what extreme music should do is elicit a strong response from the listener, either a positive or negative one. Its unique in that the way they have put these together and whether it sits within the black metal spectrum is up to others to argue.
My Garden starts off like a tornado that has been trapped, solid riff with a batshit lead over it and then straight into a crunching guitar. Vocals come in like fingernails on a blackboard, so far so black metal. Its as it progresses that certain cues that this is not your standard fare, the way it sounds and the way its attacked. The cleans that come in mid-way spring out of nowhere, wrong footing until the pendulum swings back towards the starting point, grinding out before that clean refrain returns.
It’s a turbulent end which unleashes Flea rips in, barely audible narrative behind it whilst the screaming continues. I think this is where the ecstatic term comes from, because it has a happy vibe to it with probably the singing style being the only thing you can link to the traditional. Add in an emotionally wrought lead break and you think what just happened. Micah(5:15am) runs in, initially sounding more like black metal in terms of how the guitar lines are formed and then deployed. Even though it follows a certain path, it still leans to a brighter side of that genre.
The Weight takes its name seriously, anvil heavy stabs that fade away with a tinge of sadness. They pick this back up dialling in the speed but pulled in a way that feels unique to them. It feels like it could fall apart at any moment and I have no idea how you would dance to this live. Badly in my case, anyway. Whilst the main body of the song keeps on track, they unleash chaos around it that is just mental and somehow get away with it.
Going into Serenity, it dawns on me that I don’t actually like what I’m hearing, not just this song but what I’ve heard up to this point. There is something I’m not getting and that is fine, I’m not supposed to love everything but I now have to justify this instead of just saying its shit. It isn’t, and Serenity captures what is wrong for me with this. Its 3 minutes of speed, but its like its been built by someone who consciously is trying to avoid sounding like black metal they are constantly trying to make it sound odd. This is literally the audio version of its not you, its me.
Where this really starts to come home is on The Spiritual Sound, 29 seconds of nothing, segueing into Dan’s Love Song which I just hated, I’ve no justification for why it caused that reaction but it did. Bodhidharma sees them move further away into their own realm, and by now it feels like a chore in staying the course with them, which grows as they drop Hallelujah and then The Reply.
I’m pretty sure that this will be incredibly well received, but I’m struggling with it. And what’s more I can’t actually articulate why. The opening songs ripped, but at that mid-point there was something that turned me off and I just couldn’t get back onboard with. You also cannot argue with their commitment to doing it their way, taking that genre and then breaking it into bits to serve their needs. I think a 6 is appropriate. But, if you want to try new ways of doing things, you should check this out. 6/10
Amongst Strangers – Strength Of A Few (Self Released) [Spike]
There’s an extra spark of excitement listening to Strength Of A Few, because this isn’t just any debut EP, it’s from a local band I’m going to get the chance to see live in a few days. Amongst Strangers hit hard with a sound that blends punchy punk energy and memorable melodic hooks, immediately drawing you in while promising intensity and attitude.
The EP opens with Propaganda, a track that sets the pace with tight, fast riffs and driving drums. It grabs you right away, making clear that this band doesn’t waste a second of your attention. The title track, Strength Of A Few, follows and cements the band’s blend of aggression and sing-along sensibility. This is the kind of music that feels built for small venues packed with energy.
We Are The Difference adds a more reflective layer, balancing the intensity with lyrics about personal agency and standing up in a world that often seems stacked against you. Then This World Is Falling To Pieces channels raw frustration with the precision of punk honed over rehearsal hours and small gigs, giving the listener both urgency and catharsis. Electric Loneliness slows down slightly but doesn’t lose any emotional weight, it’s in these quieter moments that the EP’s depth really shows.
Closing with Strength Of A Few, the EP leaves you both exhilarated and impressed. It’s concise, fierce, and melodic, with a sense that this band is only just beginning to show what they can do. Production is clean but still edgy; the instruments breathe, the riffs hit, and the hooks stick without ever feeling forced.
What makes this review particularly thrilling for me is the local connection and the live opportunity. Norwich’s venues have taken a beating in recent years, and seeing a brand-new space opening its doors to emerging bands is energising. Getting to witness Amongst Strangers perform this EP live is something to genuinely look forward to. It’s a reminder that small venues and new talent are still thriving, and that the energy of punk and local music is very much alive.
Where this really starts to come home is on The Spiritual Sound, 29 seconds of nothing, segueing into Dan’s Love Song which I just hated, I’ve no justification for why it caused that reaction but it did. Bodhidharma sees them move further away into their own realm, and by now it feels like a chore in staying the course with them, which grows as they drop Hallelujah and then The Reply.
I’m pretty sure that this will be incredibly well received, but I’m struggling with it. And what’s more I can’t actually articulate why. The opening songs ripped, but at that mid-point there was something that turned me off and I just couldn’t get back onboard with. You also cannot argue with their commitment to doing it their way, taking that genre and then breaking it into bits to serve their needs. I think a 6 is appropriate. But, if you want to try new ways of doing things, you should check this out. 6/10
Amongst Strangers – Strength Of A Few (Self Released) [Spike]
There’s an extra spark of excitement listening to Strength Of A Few, because this isn’t just any debut EP, it’s from a local band I’m going to get the chance to see live in a few days. Amongst Strangers hit hard with a sound that blends punchy punk energy and memorable melodic hooks, immediately drawing you in while promising intensity and attitude.
The EP opens with Propaganda, a track that sets the pace with tight, fast riffs and driving drums. It grabs you right away, making clear that this band doesn’t waste a second of your attention. The title track, Strength Of A Few, follows and cements the band’s blend of aggression and sing-along sensibility. This is the kind of music that feels built for small venues packed with energy.
We Are The Difference adds a more reflective layer, balancing the intensity with lyrics about personal agency and standing up in a world that often seems stacked against you. Then This World Is Falling To Pieces channels raw frustration with the precision of punk honed over rehearsal hours and small gigs, giving the listener both urgency and catharsis. Electric Loneliness slows down slightly but doesn’t lose any emotional weight, it’s in these quieter moments that the EP’s depth really shows.
Closing with Strength Of A Few, the EP leaves you both exhilarated and impressed. It’s concise, fierce, and melodic, with a sense that this band is only just beginning to show what they can do. Production is clean but still edgy; the instruments breathe, the riffs hit, and the hooks stick without ever feeling forced.
What makes this review particularly thrilling for me is the local connection and the live opportunity. Norwich’s venues have taken a beating in recent years, and seeing a brand-new space opening its doors to emerging bands is energising. Getting to witness Amongst Strangers perform this EP live is something to genuinely look forward to. It’s a reminder that small venues and new talent are still thriving, and that the energy of punk and local music is very much alive.
Punchy, melodic, and immediate, Strength Of A Few is a debut with the kind of energy that promises a thrilling live show. 8/10
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