Labels: Demons Run Amok
Review by: David Giles
This CD seems to reveal a closeness between Bloodlet’s Ethenogen-era brand of metallic hardcore and At The Gates’ fast melofic riffing – or rather, the sound championed by bands deriving from At The Gates, such as Darkest Hour in their ‘…Sadist Nation’ phase. Both sounds are certainly present here – but the seams between aren’t obvious. The cliched sound of metalcore post-2005 has been fast melodic riffs coupled with formulaic beatdowns. The comparatively (re)fresh(ed) communion between the fast and heavy here then is nice to hear. Note also, that despite writing about melodic riffs, this is a one guitar band and there is no cheesy In Flames harmonising. Though overreaching, a comparison to Slayer’s ‘Show No Mercy’ isn’t entirely unwarranted (at times).
There are a couple of weak points on the record: a few riffs stood out to me as lasting too long and the first riff of the record had my (jaded) mind wandering almost as soon as it began. This type of fast/slow dichotomy is proven to rekindle my interest time and time again, though. I liked this. Recommended for fans of heavy 90s metallic hardcore…