Artist: Last View
Title: Hell in Reverse
Type: Album
Label: Visicolum Productions

Last View are from Sweden. This is evident from the uncannily natural melody to be found on this Metalcore album. “Boundless energy” and “breathtaking” are terms which came to my mind as I heard “Hell in Reverse”. It’s in-your-face, aggressive Metal but tinged with intriguing twists and turns as the pace fluctuates in its natural and fluid way. But beware: the central position on the controller is set at fast, hard and heavy. Hardcore is the essence of this album, I suppose, but there’s so much more than screaming and anger. “Down by the Docks” epitomizes what this album is about. A thoroughly engaging and captivating riff starts it off like a story being told, before 150% Hardcore intensity kicks in. The guitar work flourishes prominently in the background, adding great depth, as the track wavers between thrashiness and sinister darkness. There’s no sense of the band trying to do too much. Everything is sourced through the aggression and melody right from the opening, title track “Hell in Reverse”. A wealth of shuddering excitement follows. It’s designed to shake you, arouse you and make you bang your head. The structures are sublime. It’s the confident fluidity which makes it so good. “Keep up – never surrender” exhort the band on the frenetic “Remembrance”. Who cares what the commuters on the silly o’clock from my local station thought as I punched the air and joined in, marvelling at the grainy and sinister section before the battle gets going again. My juices were flowing. People need this. It’s better than one of those energy drinks.

If you’re looking for a basis of comparison, Let’s say Soilwork meet The Haunted , in other words large dollops of melodic thrashing, with a high dosage of top class Hardcore. Chunky riffs just tear through each track like a knife through butter. I thought my head was going to become detached as the driving force of “It’s True” thrust me forward. I don’t know who “M. Dutroux” is but he is the title of a dark and angst-driven thrashathons near the end of the album. Through the piece, the band show they are capable of presenting their work from different angles, never more so than on the last track “Relieve Us” which leaves a deeply sinister taste in the mouth.

Last View have been around for about 3 years but they have got their act together with this crisp and most enjoyable hybrid of Metal styles. I shall go off and get my breath back now. Phew.

http://www.myspace.com/lastviewsthlm

Andrew Doherty

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