Receiving this album alongside another in a post office plastic bag did not bode well for the contents. Despite the apology on said plastic bag you get the sense the PO couldn’t really give a shit about your letter that should have had two full CDs with booklets. Opening the bag I was fairly optimistic when I saw all the booklets intact, but closer inspection revealed that both CDs were missing having fallen out of some split in the envelope… bastards.
So now you’re asking if the CDs were lost how the hell are you managing to review it? Well let’s just say that mp3 fairy came to visit my computer with the album. This Manchester based outfit boasts a Hungarian drummer, a bassist from Trinidad and a guitarist from England. Putting such different cultures together into a metal melting pot sounds like a damn good idea on paper as this debut showcases a schizoid approach to metal. Thankfully there is no intro as the band grasps you by the throat and threatens your carotid with the scything riff that adorns “The Singularity”. The music is predominantly thrash based with a hugely distorted and vitriolic vocal assault. The song has a half hearted beat down before splattering the song with hefty double bass kicks. The initial lead work stood out immediately being well though out and carefully crafted into the song. “Jacob’s Ladder” is up next and here the band continues the rabid vocal distortion which in part is similar to vocal snarling of black metal outfits.
By the time track two ends I felt this was a little messy and in need of a little tidying up to improve the impact. Each song is packed with ideas and whilst creativity is not the flaw, execution and flow are. “Terra Nova” has a metalcore like beat to it, though the song is juggernaut in heaviness. By the time the album reaches track six, “Deliverance”, I couldn’t help but become tired of the vocal style which is as nasty as it comes but just plain boring when it is the same style over and over again with little change in pitch or emotion. The bands use of harmonising guitar work, even if layered, is very good, with the leads standing out above all else. Production wise this is fairly typical of what younger metal bands go for. Crank up the bass and inject a bass kick sound that would cause a seismic shift if played direct into a plate fault.
As “This Crown Of Lead” arrives nearly 45 minutes have past and my attention span has waned significantly with 15 minutes still to go. The vocal intensity has by now become so irritating I try to use an imaginary vocal filter I’ve implanted in my lug holes to remove them. In fairness “This Crown…” is a good tune with decent lead work and riffs. The music is very good for the most part on this album mixing up modern thrash with the more accepted style of metal that creates bounce and appeals to a younger audience. Don’t get me wrong though, this is a bruiser of an album and fits the extreme side of metal than the poppy side. “Atropos” borders death metal such is the double bass used and riffing style. Penultimate track “Beneath The Surface” has a slower start before a cracking riff comes in. Admittedly the song is similar to the rest of the album as the epic eight minute closer of “Of Stars And Shadow” begins with acoustic guitar and a nice lead guitar break. The slightly out of tune effects that decorate the lead work are fine. Feedback signals the arrival of the main body of the song which is far slower generally but splashed with upbeat segues. The song is drenched in lead work that builds and recedes within a firm template of monolithic bass and drum work. As it turns out the song is a mammoth instrumental that is hugely entertaining with its myriad of leads and backing riffs. The song returns to acoustics and another lingering solo that drifts lazily for a minute or so before returning to the goliath like main riff and beat. By far the best song due to the lack of vocals.
Whilst I might not like vocal style used here there is no denying the playing intensity and crushing power this album possesses. I will definitely be looking for some tour dates to check them out live.
http://www.myspace.com/notaboveevil
Martin Harris
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