A pretty new and young band, this is the second full length release from this Ipswich based mob and my introduction to them. I'm kind of promised a bit of power/thrash blending here and something about hobbits (or at least a solid ball of metal forged in Middle Earth).
The dramatic intro, all symphonic and bombastic, is very much sharing space with Turisas and Bal Sagoth with pompous horn and keyboard sound before the hard hammer blow riff and hard pounding drums kick off the truly epic 'Echoes of an Unclear Past'. It is pretty much as advertised too: a blend of power metal firmly tempered by a more thrash structure of choppy riffing and barked/shouted vocals. It has its twists, a sombre little midsection followed by a much thrashier lead out, and even touches of traditional heavy metal in some excellent lead work but it just falls a little shy of being compelling.
However things really look up on ' Function of.The Human Condition'. The thrash opening slowly has something else creep into it which grabs the song by the scruff and eventually gives it a damned good shake; leadwork with real hooks. Yes there is a perfect Immortal moment in there but it kind of rolls into a more Amon Amarth style and back again without losing the thrash entirely. Regardless it not only adds depth to the song, but colour beyond the thrash by numbers skeleton. This is something that is a theme throughout ' The Blood Of Titans'. The moment the song steps half an inch from the full on choppy riffs, its like the sunlight suddenly catching iridescent paint; colour and emotion burst out of the (digital) grooves and you find a highly promising metal band. Listen to the colour and drive added to 'My Own Enemy' when the instrumental part fully invades; no drop out of the power, no over the top power cheese, just fine hammering metal. Very classy, nicely gritty stuff. When they slow things there’s even touches of Mael Mordha style drama in the vocal interplay between lead and backing voices, particularly on Eyes Of Madness. The sparsely used, semi-gang style vocals really work here.
I do have to say that sometimes, though, you are left screaming for more variation in the vocals. When the band are in the chug and the drama, the barked style works very well indeed, coming across strong and clear but when they ride into those great hook laden fields the vocals need to step up more, mix it up with that melody around it. Minor point but it’s almost like at times it’s the only part of Elimination that hadn't yet flexed its wings totally out of the new thrash box.
Honestly though, these guys are so on the right track its kind of grin inducing; hard, rough thrash 'n' heavy metal with a delight at playing it oozing from each note and melody and hooks laced through like a spiked drink. Yes there are still rough areas here and there; sometimes things get a bit too chug chug but usually there's something catchy just round the corner.
http://www.myspace.com/eliminationband
Gizmo
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