Back in 2013, a release caught my eye because of its title… Romantic Delusions of Hell had a definite ring to it and the heavyweight, Sabbath-y epic, ‘Covetous’ is still oft played. Fast forward to 2023 and the band responsible, Die Like Gentlemen, are back with their 6th release called Hard Truths. The striking cover is from a painting by Marcus Larsen (a great artist from the mid-1800s) called “Ocean at Night with a Burning Ship” which is dramatic if difficult to align with the title.
The line-up is still Adam Alexander (vocals, guitar), Shawn Boles (drums), Matt Wieber (lead guitar) and Sean Rodgers (bass, backing vocals) and they’ve conspired to bring a new-ish sound to the table, which in their words shows “they have evolved from their sludge and stoner roots to a more uptempo classic metal sound, still filtered through our progressive lens to achieve something new and original yet familiar.”
Having listened a few times, I have to agree: the Sabbath hints and a Priestly edge blended with their own identities provide an interesting mix. Take the eight-minute opener ‘Guts of a Beggar’ for starters… the Masters of Reality-era riffing, the psych-tinged bridge and the return to the weight to the end. That song had me thinking Manowar was the next one ‘Last Night On Earth’. The piece de resistance for me, however, is the ten minutes of heavy rock with psyche and stoner rock of ‘Infalling Bodies’ with the distinct sections bringing the song an air of majesty. ‘Letting in the Rain’ runs it close as the Zep-flavoured intro bleeds into heavy subtlety. The album closes with the complex ‘Unliving’, Priest-like flourishes with doom, death and heavy rock finding a way to fit right in!
Nine songs, nigh on an hour running time and not a wasted second… their best yet and worthy of your attention.
Hard Truths is out on 17th March 2023 via Drink This Music.
