Of Virtue – Sinner EP (Arising Empire Records)
Carrying on the hype and kudos that came from the previous full length What Defines You, Lansing Michigan foursome Of Virtue, continue their upward trajectory and musical evolution with this new four track EP called Sinner. From their metalcore roots they have taken the same path as so many before them by bringing in the progressive touches of djent, and some electronics that oscillate as part of the grooves. Speaking of grooves first track Hypocrite is an instant punch of Of Virtue as they stand in 2022, bludgeoning riffs, scream/clean vocals and twitchy breakdown infused riffs.
However the more melodic, gothic,
atmospheric Sinner, is all about the clean vocals and shout along choruses, as
they shift towards alt metal away from the metalcore, they do the same on Cold Blooded
a sure fire single and the reason why they are compared to bands such as Bad
Omens and Bring Me The Horizon as they can easily balance the heavy metalcore
and the more angsty alt metal, the final number Echoes really shifting the gear
into that BMTH style. What I did notice is that this EP is darker in tone than
their previous efforts but still with a positive catharsis that will be ringing
through venues soon. Of Virtue are making a sound that is familiar to many but
doing so well enough to distance themselves. 7/10
Spirit Adrift - 20 Centuries Gone (Century Media Records)
2 new tracks, 6 covers, let’s not muck about. Sorcerer’s Fate is a straight down the line trad metal song with some twin axe harmonies and thrashy overtone, prime Spirit Adrift with a mix of Maiden and Metallica to it. A stomper that will guaranteed to get your head banging, this is Nate Garrett’s forte. Mass Formation Psychosis shifts the sound towards something a bit doomier with a Candlemass chug and a lot of Sabbath worship, the psych-tinged number brings a big hit of doom. So the two new tracks are worthy additions to what Spirit Adrift do, showcasing both sides of their trad metal style.
It’s in the covers where Garrett shows his worth especially as a vocalist. On all six tracks they stick to the originals but give them a Spirit Adrift make over, it’s Garrett voice that does most of the work, especially on Type O Negative’s Everything Dies where he manages to convey the untold misery in Peter Steele’s baritone and on Hollow by Pantera where he shifts easily into the Southern rage of Phil Anselmo. Both these tracks continue the gloom of Mass Formation Psychosis. They then up the tempo with one of my favourite Metallica songs Escape from Ride The Lightning which has all the veracity of the original.
From Metallica Spirit Adrift move into one of Papa Het’s biggest influences Thin Lizzy with a roughed up version of Waiting For An Alibi. So far its four songs you’d expect are part of the musical DNA of the band. The final two though are not in the metal spectrum but more the Southern boogie of Nasty Dogs And Funky Kings by ZZ Top and Poison Whiskey from Lynyrd Skynyrd, again they are dealt with reverence but given a bit of distortion. The point of this record is to pay tribute to Garrett’s influences and how they have evolved over the 20th Century and ultimately led to the band he has now. A stopgap before a new album? Yes. But a good one that doesn’t take the obvious route. 7/10
Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids - Charm Offensive (Ray
Records/Cargo Records)
Formerly the axeman for Last Great Dreamers, who released four albums and toured all over the UK and Europe, Slyder Smith now breaks out on his own with his power trio. The Oblivion Kids are Bassist Tim Emery and drummer Rik Pratt as Slyder takes guitar and vocals, making a 14 song (!) album of rock n roll that never strays too far from the rootsy, glam, sleazy rock that Slyder has been so associated.
Calico Queen is a glam stomper while When The Rain Comes is very The Wildhearts, Crash Landing In Teenage Heaven meanwhile goes very Mott The Hoople, it’s Ian Hunter who is the overarching influence here, they may say something different but most of this album sounds like Mott The Hoople and Slyder’s vocals even have the Hunter-like quality. The problem is that 14 tracks is too many, especially when so many of them are quite similar.
I’m not saying it’s a bad record, there is talent here and a section of the
listening audience who love bands such as The Quireboys, Mott The Hoople etc
who will love this record, for me though there are too many tracks and not
enough variation. 5/10
Empress - Fateweaver (Self Released)
Born from the classic styles of Nightwish/Epica/Kamelot American symphonic metal band Empress, are playing one of the most oversubscribed genres in metal but Empress seem to sound fresh and exciting. This is a good thing as there are literally thousands of symphonic metal bands around, especially ones with soprano vocals, orchestrations and metal backing, so it does get a little tiring trailing through countless acts that all have the same style. Plus I have said before that the symphonic bubble burst a few years ago with a lot of the big names adapting into a more electronic driven sound. However for me the classic symphonic metal ethos of Empress just clicks.
The vocals of Barbara Blackthorne are excellent, more than just a soprano delivery she has the same kind of dynamism as Simone Simmons of Epica, a band I’d say they have more in common with than Nightwish for instance. Cinematic backdrops on tracks such as Chimera are set against a heavier style of metal witnessed on Beyond The Sleep and the thrashy Black Arcana which also feature some guttural roars I assume from guitarist/songwriter Vlad Khavin. It’s his song writing that keeps Fateweaver moving with a heavy style of metal and some complex arrangements and a gritty metallic groove, see the progressive Monarch, yes there’s plenty of power metal too on single Into The Grey but you can pick out the more extreme influences as well.
This is possibly why Dan Swanö mixed and mastered it to sound huge. With such a strong link to bands such as Epica, After Forever et al, Empress have managed to break out of the symphonic metal funk with a record that sounds of the time but to these ears also new. A must listen album for fans of symphonic metal. 8/10
No comments:
Post a Comment