Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
Skarlett Riot have long been at the front of hard-working metal bands in the country, their Anglicised take on bands like Paramore and Halestorm winning them a growing legion of fans.
With a number of previous releases under their belts, they’ve upped the ante on this new album and the results should see them gaining even more ground in the hearts and minds of the rock community.
Fronted by the charismatic Skarlett, the northern four-piece have brought a sharper, heavier edge to their material whilst still remaining rammed full of melody on ‘Invicta’.
Quite how much of this is down to new bass player Tim Chambers, whose vocal fries add a darkness to counterbalance the sweetness of the lead, giving things extra weight will be revealed in time but there’s a definite progression here.
This is very much a band for now and they’re determined to seize their moment.
Tracks like opener ‘Breaking The Habit’ and ‘Cut The Ties’ are bright and shining metal bruisers, the melodic, almost pop feel of Skarlett’s vocals slotting seamlessly with the rampant riffing of guitarist Dan Oglesby.
Gravity’ is a sledgehammer attack on the senses and the anthemic ‘Stronger’ and ‘Not Alone’ are uplifting slices of groove heavy metal that makes you want to dance and sing your lungs out, drummer Luke Oglesby laying down the monstrous beat.
It’s not all hardcore attack as the big and lovely ballad ‘Into Pieces’ charms effortlessly and shows the band are more than capable of displaying some light and shade.
With virtually every track featuring the aforementioned fry vocals from Chambers and Skarlett joining him in the technique on tracks like ‘Black Cloud’ it can become a little wearing as an effect but this may all be part of their evolution into a newer sound that catches the zeitgeist.
Invicta’ certainly is a modern rock record and shows just how much the band have fulfilled their earlier promise. They’re shooting for the stars and that’s certainly the trajectory they’re taking. The future is bright, the future is Skarlett.
ALTERNATIVE METAL / METAL Stream/Download ‘Stronger’ via other optional major platforms: https://despotz.ffm.to/stronger
D I S C O V E R Webshop: https://despotz.bigcartel.com/artist/…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6IN0Z…
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skarlettriotuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skarlettriot/
Bandcamp: https://skarlettriot.bandcamp.com
