UK Heavyweights Shrapnel unveil a new chapter of their career with their forthcoming album In Gravity
The albums opens with a grand crescendo of soundscapes on the ambitious title track In Gravity its effortless interweaving of influences underpinned by an undeniable heaviness already makes for a great level of anticipation. This track is the only one to feature a guest of which that honour falls to Bleed From Within vocalist Scott Kennedy.
There are some really great melodies on the bands latest single Amber Screams which delves into the harmful cycle of substance abuse and the search of greater highs becoming the escape from the plummeting normalcy of addiction. This is then followed up by my highlight track of the album – the unapologetically visceral Guardian.
Guitarist Chris Martin comments: “We’ve channelled every bit of suffering, devastation, and emotion that we’ve experienced in recent years. We’ve never been so confident about our own material.”
The band continue with the same sense of urgency and undercurrent of emotion withBreaker and amongst all this is the clear influence that previous have had, they collision of grunge and metal is rife and executed in such a way that is both nostalgic and refreshing.
The combination of Judgement and Dark Age are not only a genius pairing but will most certainly be live favourites in their own right.
Continuing, Chris adds, “As an album, In Gravity really has a focus on how we all deal with problems of varying extremities. We wanted to take a look at how some of the solutions to our problems become problems in of themselves, be that addiction or anything else.
“It’s an album about how difficult it can be to face those problems many of us share. It was written during tragedy, and we’re rolling it out during some difficult times for us. While we don’t have the answers, we also realise that the ways we deal with issues is to create art, which in itself is a healer. We’ve really been holding the mirror up and exercising some demons on this one. It’s led to the best album we’ve ever written, and something we hope will connect other people far more deeply than anything we’ve released previously.”
Follow The Cold flows effortlessly into the short instrumental acoustic As Above which serves as a great introduction to the real statement piece that is …So Below
Longest track Absolution almost drips into Opeth territory for a brief moment but then the familiar power and swirling solos really showcases just how good In Gravity is as a body of work.
The album concludes with Rust which has the biggest hooks of the album hands down and Kingmaker spinning the listener into once more head swinging frenzy.
“In Gravity” Track listing.
1. In Gravity (Featuring Scott Kennedy)
2. Amber Screams
3. Guardian
4. Breaker
5. Judgement
6. Dark Age
7. Follow The Cold
8. As Above…
9. …So Below
10. Absolution
11. Rust
12. Kingmaker
Line-up:
Daniel Moran – Vocals/Bass
Chris Williams – Drums
Chris Martin – Rhythm Guitar
Nathan Sadd – Lead Guitar
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7/10
