Metallica return with Album no 11 72 Seasons via their own label.
Opening proceedings one of the four singles previously released title track 72 Seasons with its immediate ringing of bass and drums, fires in at a mega seven and half minutes, setting the tone for the album and picking up where Hardwired left off, following on from this is Shadows Follow which manages to incorporate the Metallica sound through the decades whilst still offering something fresh, for me personally this is my favourite Hetfield vocal performance of the entire album.
Screaming Suicide slots in nicely and to hear it within the context of the album overall makes it all the better, and as if to prove my earlier point the soundscapes of Sleepwalk My Life Away proves that the band aren't simply going through the motions, so much so that this may very well be my highlight track of the album - maybe because it's got some real bass behind it with tinges of Death Magnetic.
Another 7 minute blasts trough the speakers, You Must Burn maintains a steady heartbeat throughout and of course with a band of this magnitude there have been early bedroom critics especially when it comes to solos but so far the guitar tones and especially the solos on this particular track are majestic and then it’s very much foot firmly back on the accelerator for Lux Aeturna which is the perfect aperitif for Crown Of Barbed Wire and its partner in crime, the very much drum-led Chasing Light
If ever there was a perfect amalgamation of aesthetic and sound then If Darkness Had A Son would undoubtedly take the crown, everything has a sense of the ominous alongside a catchy-as-hell chorus, this may down to Hetfield’s own struggles that manifest themselves through the emotion as the album goes in further and further it takes me through the undeceives of needing to change my highlight as I haven't heard a track that I didn't like, this is further highlighted by the follow up Too Far Gone?
As the album moves into its penultimate track Room Of Mirrors I am already irked by the lazy bashing this album is inevitably going to get just by proxy of who the band are, in all honestly, for me, this is easily one of the most ambitious yet true to themselves the band have released in years, this track would've been a great send-off but that honour goes to eleven minutes of Inamorata which to some may seem self-indulgent but in the context of 72 Seasons it isn't out of place and after everything this album has delivered I hope people get on board with it.
I will be honest, even though I have this on pre-order I was expecting to at least have something negative to say as it's been a while since the band have managed to produce something which made me feel as I did when first hearing Ride The Lightning or the Black Album but for me that's what they've done and whether people will want to admit or not this album will do the same for others, yes there are no ballads such as unforgiven but does there really need to be? once the initial dust settles this album will no doubt be held in high regard and one that isn’t lost alongside the ten that it follows.
Rooted in the past but with a firm foot in the current and beyond. 8/10
Veiled - The Black Rite (Seek & Strike Records) [GC]
Looking around this mutant filled shithole of a country we call the UK its frankly shocking but also undeniable that there is a wealth of talent knocking about in the metal scene and today I have some more of that talent from Leeds based symphonic deathcore band Veiled and their new EP The Black Rite. I have recently reviewed some phenomenal UK acts and have high hopes for Veiled!
It all saunters into your conscious on the back of some haunting and gothic piano sounds that is then rudely interrupted by a scream from the very bowels of hell and what then spill out of the speakers is an unrelenting and vicious assault that mixes the best parts of thrash, black metal and death metal and becomes the best sounding deathcore there is of course the clean singing part midway that isn’t really needed and kind of feels like it was an after thought but the midpoint drop into the beatdown is fucking HUGE has to be heard to be believed, this will destroy live!
Recusant is next and has an almost djent type sounding riff that then leads back into the tried and trusted deathcore sound and again clean singing is back but this time its fits slightly better than before and carries the song along at a decent pace but I kind of hope this isn’t a recurring theme as I do think it might start to piss me off if it’s always there, Confession has another heavily gothic and echoey piano opening and again then absolutely rampages forward and when the beatdown is introduced and mixed with the groovy djent riffs creates another fucking huge sounding song then from out of nowhere there they are again, those cleans, they just seem dropped in at last minute as if the need to create some sort of light to push against all the darkness, they are not needed and are just annoying unfortunately but when they want to they know how to write a crushing riff!
Relinquished begins with the sort of fury and anger that is needed to shake away any doubt that may be creeping in and just as you breath that sigh of relief, guess what happens? Yep, there back, so annoying as the end section of this song might be the best part of the whole EP so far. So now its onto the last track The Becoming, Creepy opening? Check! brutal black/death metal feel? Check! Big djenty riffs? Check! And hello, guitar solo? Check! And of course, annoying, unneeded clean vocals? Fucking check! It all just gets so frustrating because without them being forced in every track this EP would have scored so much higher for me.
So, as we can see I really liked the vast majority of this and as we can also see I really think that they should just get rid of the cleans off every bit of this because, for my money they don’t enhance any of the songs they hinder them. There is a lot to like here and me moaning about some singing should not put you off listening to and more importantly enjoying The Black Rite. The UK has gone and done it again lads! 7/10
Atreyu - The Hope Of A Spark (Spinefarm) [Matt Bladen]
Having been one of the leading lights in that NWOAHM/metalcore scene near the beginning of the 2000's. From there their eight albums flexed all sorts of genre shifts, their most recent record Baptize recieving mixed reviews, possibly as it was the first without their founding guitarist. However this EP is something of a reboot, after a triumphant tour with BFMV, the now established current Atreyu line up have focussed their efforts on the phoenix-like rebirth, the concept around the EP being the seasons of life and marking the next chapter.
Relinquished begins with the sort of fury and anger that is needed to shake away any doubt that may be creeping in and just as you breath that sigh of relief, guess what happens? Yep, there back, so annoying as the end section of this song might be the best part of the whole EP so far. So now its onto the last track The Becoming, Creepy opening? Check! brutal black/death metal feel? Check! Big djenty riffs? Check! And hello, guitar solo? Check! And of course, annoying, unneeded clean vocals? Fucking check! It all just gets so frustrating because without them being forced in every track this EP would have scored so much higher for me.
So, as we can see I really liked the vast majority of this and as we can also see I really think that they should just get rid of the cleans off every bit of this because, for my money they don’t enhance any of the songs they hinder them. There is a lot to like here and me moaning about some singing should not put you off listening to and more importantly enjoying The Black Rite. The UK has gone and done it again lads! 7/10
Atreyu - The Hope Of A Spark (Spinefarm) [Matt Bladen]
Having been one of the leading lights in that NWOAHM/metalcore scene near the beginning of the 2000's. From there their eight albums flexed all sorts of genre shifts, their most recent record Baptize recieving mixed reviews, possibly as it was the first without their founding guitarist. However this EP is something of a reboot, after a triumphant tour with BFMV, the now established current Atreyu line up have focussed their efforts on the phoenix-like rebirth, the concept around the EP being the seasons of life and marking the next chapter.
A personal, emotionally wrought record based on their collective experiences long-time collaborator John Feldmann again produces the music but the performances seem more focussed and complete than Baptize. These are songs to draw strength from whether it's combating mental health issues, the current widening gap between rich and poor and desperation in local communities, Atreyu are more bloody minded but positive than before finding hope where possible as they themselves move on to their next chapter.
The music goes back to their earlier days but with the modern sheen they have developed over the years, present on the EDM meets 80’s guitar rock of God/Devil while the hooky Watch Me Burn will be a live staple soon enough. Back on the right track Atreyu may just see that rebirth yet. 7/10
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