There’s nothing like being hurled out of your comfort zone and flung into something that doesn’t quite sit right within your boundaries, and this is one such time. Despite loving melodic hard core – this is entirely unlike what I expected.
Threading Chapter – is rather a sophisticated and complex track that shows a gentle keyboard rhythm encapsulated in a melancholic and emotional drama.
Still Vacant – This track is a lot more forthright and aggressive but has strands of pure melody attached to its strength. Its fierce approach reaches an alarming climax which renews the senses.
Distant Despair – begins with a fuzzy guitar and then turns into a malignant haze of screamed vocal tenacity. The emotive melodic forces are prevalent but appear darker.
Her Being – takes on a dismal sound holding a lot of echo on the strenuous vocal. Further on in the track the vocals become softer although there are a few rousing moments it doesn’t really hold much appeal for me.
Myself Alone – This track increases with a virulent aggressive nature amid a coaxing of strings and then lulls with softer vocal, before turning a corner and exploding into a seething mass of infection.
I suppose if the band had not mentioned they were a Christian band I would have felt a lot more comfortable reviewing this as I love the aggressive rasping vocal attack, the fuzzed up guitars and solitary piano keys, but there is an eerie discomfort as I am not sure what the band are putting across here. It would not make me follow their god if that is their plan.
Their music is rather disjointed in places and holds a rather angular approach which can be a little hard to follow at times, although the vocal slant on things does give it a little more appeal.
I find that the more I listen the more I get suckered into the harshness of the tracks that pulverise with vigorous demand, but despite that the discomfort has never left me. It goes against everything I believe in wrapped up and embedded in the music which is phenomenal and is a rather ‘push me pull you’ moment, still it hasn’t pushed me to the limits of switching off completely and refusing to take part in what the band are offering here, which is a good thing but I don’t think preaching about God in music is a good thing!
Released August 5th via Imminence Records.
