THE COLONY - El Estrago CD Single
To say that a hardcore metal track “roars into life” may seem something of a cliché in the world of today's reviews, but this doesn't so much roar, as bludgeon you to death, within about twenty seconds of its opening. It rhen proceeds to put the hammer down even harder and drive forward at an intensity that's just jaw-dropping. But what makes this track – and the band – stand out – is the sheer musicality of it all. The vocals are strong but sung, the drums are really played not pedalled, the guitars have a heart of melody and the guts of a giant, while the bass just punishes everything in its path. There's structure, thought and feeling to what is an amazing three minutes of heavy duty metal riffing thunder. If that wasn't enough to whet your appetite, then “Bring Temptation Down” just carries on where the first one left off, with some searing lead guitar breaks along the way, so good that you'll readily forgive the lead vocalist for missing a plethora of notes along the way, and even a flat vocalist can't ruin your enjoyment of one nuclear powered slice of hardcore metal mayhem. The title track rones the pace down slightly but not the intensity, as this time the guitars really rip and riff, as another thunderous rhythm section performance drives it all to hell as another, slightly flat, but well intentioned, vocal performance tops it all off, at its best when on the choruses, oddly enough. But the playing is so passionate, so mighty and the songs themselves so high-flying and heavy that you'll forgive this band the world – all in all, a few dodgy vocals aside, this is one stunning heavy duty metal trio of compositions and bodes exceedingly well for the future.