Review by Richard Henry for MPM
You just wonder where the time goes, it’s been 21 years since these guys first album, it doesn’t seem like that long ago, album number nine for these guys, this album consisting of a couple of eps already released and the full version of the album appearing in December!
Track 1 – Drowning – Starting with a gated chorused intro before we get hit with a heavy fast intro riff, then it breaks into an electronic verse part, that chorus is big, but it reminds me of someone else as well, not sure if the verse loses momentum in the song a bit, that chorus is massive radio friendly in a way, almost cannibal style riff in there as well, not a bad opener
Track 2 – Insomnia – More electronics to open this one, almost cellos or something and then an electronic beat kicks in on this, it’s a very electronic track, very melodic, not until you get into the chorus that you get the guitars really coming in, nice middle section as well, sort of growing clean vocal part peppered with some screams, again its sort of subdued in a way and it doesn’t really hit you in the face.
Track 3 – Capital F – There it is, the aggression is there with that riff and the scream vocal at the start, it does break down again in the verse, for a bar or two before it starts to build up again, then when we hit the chorus, it slams in again, nice breakdown section in the middle. Changing as well in feel and then you come out again into that chorus, great track!
Track 4 – God/Devil – Synth intro with a solitary drumbeat, more aggressive vocal again to start this, an almost industrial vibe comes in on this one as well, before a quick break into the clean vocals and then it starts to drive forward in the chorus, before a quick change back to that synth riff now on guitar, nice solo coming in on the middle of this, first one of the album so far, then back out into that chorus again to close this one out.
Track 5 – Watch me Burn – Orchestral strings to open this one with a drum beat hanging in the background, before we get a really heavy verse harmonized riff coming in and then it goes to the synths again and the drums sort of drop out and then it builds up again in the second half of the verse, really good chorus to this one!
Track 6 – Good Enough – Now that’s an almost Pantera style groove to that riff, but as soon as it starts its gone again as the verse with the electronics come in, another great chorus on this track, then verse two we have the real drums and this has happened now on a few tracks so already you sort of know what is coming, middle section almost like a deathcore riff, nice addition to the song to give it a bit of heft and then back into the chorus to ride it out.
Track 7 – Dancing with my Demons – I like the textured guitar part over the main riff, then you get a tom groove with a bass line over the verse, with some outside synth vocal sort of elements coming in, good chorus and nice sort of gang style vocals reinforcing it as well, that chorus is very Killswitch, the riff after it though slams, probably the heaviest track so far!
Track 8 – Gone – Nice riff to kick this off, syncopating with the kick drums and then the verse has a driving beat, even though the guitars back off, it doesn’t leave it lacking, that’s a really good chorus, all clean vocal but it reminds me of someone and I can’t put my finger on it at the min, almost like a pop punk but not sort of vibe, nice solo on this, bit of tapping in there and some nice licks as well, then it breaks into the synth and clean vocal before hitting the chorus again, great track!
Track 9 – I Don’t Wanna Die – The organ is out for the start of this, then a nice melodic guitar part comes in over a slow drumbeat, the first ballad sort of track on the album, clean guitars and vocals in the verse and then the vocals climb up as they hit into the chorus, almost like and Alter Bridge/Tremonti vocal in that chorus, nice guitar solo, staying very melodic which totally suits the song and then into the verse to close.
Track 10 – Immortal – Thats a cool and creepy synth line following that riff, it does break straight down into the verse and it’s a bit industrial sounding before the guitars come in for the pre-chorus and chorus and yet again it’s a banger of a chorus, that middle section just adds to the song so much, I love that and the perfect time for the harsh vocals to give a bit of shade to the song, before hitting that soaring chorus again!
Track 11 – (I) – Synth and sort of faded in vocal, then it hits, proper heavy riff but as with a few songs it’s gone in seconds and back to the synthy verse, heavy chorus and then verse two is back with proper drums, like they have done on a few other songs, now I do like that riff two mins in, its proper heavy, but again its gone so quick and back into the last chorus!
Track 12 – Death or Glory – Nice piano intro to this one, then it hits an industrial sort of riff, nice pre-chorus where its static chords with the vocal, then it comes into the chorus and i like the vocal delivery then adds the big chorus vocals for the second part, nice build to that, lovely female vocal coming in there in the middle section and then into a very Avenged sounding solo over that riff, really good track!
Track 13 – Forevermore – First acoustic guitar on the album, with synths on the outside and a low vocal, you can hear the whole thing building up to something, that’s a great vocal, I thought it was going to get heavy there, but it stayed acoustic and the vocal really soared, very different sounding, the whole thing moves but it’s very subtle in delivery, this might be my favorite track on the album and it’s so different to all the other ones, outstanding!
Track 14- Come Down – Atmospheric synth vibes to start this with the vocal almost in the background, that’s a really electronic almost dance verse, then the chorus is massively catchy again almost that sort of pop punk feel in the pace, heavier for verse two with a driving tom beat, then it breaks into the middle, I love that solo, very Vai in a way, then into the verse again, not so sure on this song to be fair!
Track 15 –The Beautiful Dark of Life – Now that’s a riff to kick a song in with, that’s one for the pit for sure, then the verse still drives through, nice transition from the heavy vocals into the clean vocals of the chorus, really gives it an uplift before that heavy riff slams in again, the gang vocals come in an d then the middle section its them on their own before another melodic solo kicks in, bit of a break and then into the chorus again
7 out of 10
There are some good parts on this and some good tracks, but after the first couple of tracks I knew what was coming and it was a bit the same, when its heavy its heavy, but it doesn’t stay there and the reliance on the synth verse takes away some of the momentum in a few tracks I found! When it’s good it’s great, the rest of the time it’s good, just never amazing, but again everyone has a different opinion, this is just mine!
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