Founded in Spring 2011, The Convalescence is a 6-piece including Keith Wampler (vocals), Brandon Davis (guitar), Zac Lunsford (guitar), Ronald Buckley (bass), Charles Webber (drums), and Katie McCrimmon (keyboards/vocals). They fuse deathcore with theatrical elements of Black Metal and the shredding guitars and blast beats of modern Death Metal. There may be black metal corpse paint, and the use of keyboards, but although they have picked up the visual elements of that genre in truth there is little musically that has been brought through. The keyboards are often quite subdued when the guitars are shredding away, but when they do come to the fore there is more of a symphonic feel in a way not too dissimilar to Betraying The Martyrs.
I think this is their third album, but to be honest I haven’t been able to find out much information on them through the web. It is certainly their debut for Unique Leader, and apparently the first time they have signed with a label, but they seem to be one of the hardest working bands around as they always seem to be on tour! Consequently, the album is incredibly tight, as the guys all know exactly what they are doing. This is a solid album that will be appreciated by anyone into deathcore, without being outstanding. It will be interesting to see what happens with them in the future as this definitely shows promise. BTW, the first track may be called “Scum” but unfortunately it isn’t the Napalm Death classic! For more details visit http://www.uniqueleader.com
