Artist: Screaming Banshee
Title: The Chronicles
Type: EP
Label: Unsigned
Italian Progressive death metallers Screaming Banshee formed in late 2009, one year later this solid effort is laid out to the streets. Obviously taking their influences from latter day Death/Control Denied they mix the quieter personal moments of solitude with some pretty spectacular, competent and neck breaking speed and aggression, with some joyous riffs, musical hooks and basic god-fearing time changes. Opening opus ‘My Scream’ lays the foundations before ‘Guardians of the Tower’ shatters those foundations once again with some epic use of musical notation to breathe both life and utter darkness. ‘The Cursed’ presents another buoyant arrangement, they clearly love the finger tapping, but it is also clear that these chaps have an amazing talent. The progressive metal of fellow countrymen Pathosray blew me away a couple of years ago with their debut, whilst progressive in nature, there is a definite difference in this animal. The vocals use traditional death growls, snarls and energy, but the music is where I find their major selling point. When looking at a new unsigned band, I always feel that they should give a professional presentation, and how to represent themselves is not too much of an arduous task for this band, I refer to their well received CD promo and the change of artwork to that displayed in the music reviewers bible when it comes to internet reference material.
‘One Day of Swords’ is the killer epic number, well actually they all are, but it is this track that has stuck out in my mind the most. To own the fretboard in this genre is pretty much expected, bonus point one; to have a gift of arranging these riffs into epic songs is also a requirement, bonus point two; but full marks have to go to the warmth and organic nature you get when listening to the EP into the small hours. You don’t need to invest a great deal of time, it is right here for you to hear from the opening notes to its parting farewell. Quite simply one hell of a debut and one hell of a band whereby their music takes you on a first class cruise around the waters of future stars.
http://www.myspace.com/screamingbansheemetal
