Viscera are a death/metalcore band from the UK and this is their second album.
Carcinogenesis follows on from 2020’s Obsidian, which was a record I loved, so I have been really looking forward to hearing this new one. It has not disappointed. Continue reading “Viscera – Carcinogenesis (Review)”
This is the second album from Finnish melodic death metallers Horizon Ignited.
Featuring the singer of I Am the Night, Horizon Ignited play a mix of melodic death metal and metalcore, delivering 39 minutes of quality entertainment on Towards the Dying Lands. Continue reading “Horizon Ignited – Towards the Dying Lands (Review)”
This is the second album from US metalcore band Light the Torch.
The follow up to 2018’s Revival, Light the Torch have now returned with 43 minutes of new material, (and a Terence Trent D’Arby cover). Continue reading “Light the Torch – You Will Be the Death of Me (Review)”
Killswitch Engage are a metalcore band from the US and this is their eighth album.
Killswitch Engage are one of the larger, more recognisable names out there in the metal landscape, and I’m sure they need little introduction. Suffice it to say that they’re a big deal in certain circles. Continue reading “Killswitch Engage – Atonement (Review)”
This is the debut EP from US metalcore band The Iron Gates.
Here we have 20 minutes of thrash-influenced metalcore that strikes a balance between Darkest Hour‘s razor-sharp thrash, Killswitch Engage’s groove, and something a little more along the melodic death metal lines, (Amon Amarth?); there’s a pleasing aggression to parts of these songs. Continue reading “The Iron Gates – The Story Thus Far (Review)”
The Shape are a US metal band and this is their fourth album.
Mixing modern metal, metalcore, thrash metal, nu-metal, and groove metal into their sound, this is an enjoyable romp through a landscape that sees many different complementary influences touched upon. Continue reading “The Shape – The World Away (Review)”
Shattered Sun are a metalcore band from the US. This is their second album.
Metalcore is a much maligned sub-genre, usually for good reason; there’s a lot of generic dross out there, sadly. However, if you’re looking for a ripping example of how to do metalcore right in 2017, your sights should immediately land on Shattered Sun. Continue reading “Shattered Sun – The Evolution of Anger (Review)”
A Breach of Silence are an Australian metal band and this is their third album.
I’ve been watching A Breach of Silence with a keen interest over the years and have enjoyed seeing them grow as a band.
Their 2013 debut album Dead or Alive was an enjoyable slab of Killswitch Engage-inspired metalcore. This was followed up Continue reading “A Breach of Silence – Secrets (Review)”
Serpentine Dominion are a US death metal band. This is their debut album.
Featuring current and ex-members of Cannibal Corpse, Killswitch Engage and The Black Dahlia Murder, this was only ever going to be good at the very least.
Well, it’s even better than that. Continue reading “Serpentine Dominion – Serpentine Dominion (Review)”
This is the second album from Swedish Metal band Mindshift.
Mindshift’s latest album is 56 minutes of downtuned aggression in the Metalcore style that pushes the tried-and-tested style of heavy verses and melodic choruses, à la Atreyu, Killswitch Engage, Soilwork and the like.
The singer’s harsh voice reminds me of the singer of Atreyu, and he provides a good performance for the most part. The clean vocals do what they’re here to do, with decent melodies and hooks, some of which are really quite tasty.
The songs are, overall, a bit heavier and more aggressive than some that play this style, which I like, although the radio-friendly choruses clearly show their aspirations.
Although this style has been done to death, with some catchy choruses and good songwriting this is still an enjoyable release if you’re partial to the style. I probably would have loved this about 10-15 years ago. Nowadays I still quite like it, mainly due to the fact that it’s done well and sticks to basic song structures that are as familiar as they are pleasing in their simplicity.
Despite all of the things that are stacked against a band playing this style, I like that Horizon doesn’t play it completely safe and doesn’t just take the easy option of completely regurgitating stuff that’s been done a million times before. This is mainly down to the guitars and clean vocals – the former sound like a lot of consideration has gone into their structuring and layout, while the latter really do add a lot to the tracks and are performed with a passion that’s apparent.
There’s some good riffs and emotive melodies knocking about here too, and the electronic component to their sound is infrequent and used lightly, adding what is needed to the songs without getting in the way.
Ultimately Mindshift have put together an album that is easy to sit back and enjoy. The decent riffs and vocals do their job well and the songs pass by in a quite personable way. I can easily imagine myself listening to this a few more times in the future, despite a slightly over-long playing time.
Have a listen and check them out.
Wonderbox Metal 