Apparently this is the fourth album from this Swedish band, but is the first time I have come across them. Given that singer Tony JJ (Mnemic, B-Thong, Transport League) and bassist Rob Hakemo (Ex Engel, Relevant Few, Gooseflesh) had to recruit two new members after the last album, this is more like a new band altogether. They managed to gather Mark U Black (ex Dream Evil, DragonLord) on guitar and Adde Larsson (Black Candy Store, ex Engel, Urbandux) on drums, and the result is something that in many ways is as subtle as a sledgehammer but in others has layers and plenty going on to maintain the interest.
While they are very much a metal act, then have straddled different genres to create something that is very heavy and familiar yet also different and somewhat strange. Imagine Slipknot with Meshuggah and The Haunted then you may get close to the nu-metal based djent-style hardcore band that I am now listening to. Interestingly they describe themselves as ‘Metal-Hardcore-Progressive’, but there is little of the latter and no mention of nu-metal anywhere in the press release. There does seem to be many who think that this genre has had its’ day, but anyone who has seen Slipknot in concert knows what a fallacy that comment is, and that sound has a part to play in the very wide plethora of genres that we call ‘metal’, and these guys know exactly what they are doing with it so this is punchy and heavy with a real groove and feel.
It may not be totally indispensible but does a very fine job of removing the dandruff, thank you very much. Powerful and impressive.
