Although they were formed as long ago as 2004, only Steven 'gaze' Sanders and bassist Kristof Taveirne are still there from the 2007 debut ‘Skinnerbox v.07’, while guitarist Bart Vandeportaele and drummer Matthijs Quaars joined in time for the third release, the 2012 ‘The Art of Imperfection’. Singer Iris Goessens only joined a couple of years ago, and since this recording Kristof has left to be replaced by Dave De Loco, so here is a band that has been in some flux. So, five years since the last release, and when a new singer is on-board there are bound to be some changes, but as I haven’t previously come across Spoil Engine this is very much a new band for me. The band state that their influences range from aggressive blend of post-modern heaviness and apocalyptic atmosphere, mixing influences ranging from In Flames and Arch Enemy to Bring Me The Horizon and Architects, and one has to say that all these are here in spades. This is metalcore with attitude, with a female singer who knows exactly what is required for this style of music, and sweet Julie Andrews it isn’t. This is down and dirty, rough and raw vocals combined with ‘normal’ singing when the time is right, mixed it with some blistering riffs and aggression that makes this album stand out from the pack.
This is the type of album that makes one happy to be a metalhead and can appreciate just what is going on here. The guys mix it up with plenty of switches in styles and there are times when they are melodic, but always with power and drive that makes one feel that they are always on the edge and that anything could happen at any time. Polished and controlled, this is brutal and uncompromising yet also full of light and shade. I sincerely hope that we don’t have to wait five years until the next one, as this is superb.
