One of the most eagerly anticipated releases on the Scottish metal scene, let alone just the Dundee Scene, and a band that has done more than its fair share of internet announcements in advance of its release. With a debut gig recently completed, and more to come, the band is already being hotly tipped as the next big thing in Scottish metal.
This CD - all 7 tracks of it - justifies that claim - with a vengeance!!
The CD opens with "The Intersection" and the first thing that greets you is the sound of swirling synthesizer - yes, synthesizer - but this is joined by the deep throated vocals of ex-Self Made Man singer Norrie, rapidly joined byt solid drums, deep rumbling bass and subtle scything guitar riffing. With a first rate production bringing out all these qualities to perfection, the song is truly sung, more than justifying him as Dundee's finest metal vocalist; from menacing to all-out fury, everything is clear but powerful and the track simply cruises and crunches its way through. With the synths providing this huge expanse of sound, leaving the rest of the instrumentation to provide the metallic undercurrents, this is one awesome slice of orchestro-industrial rock free from any of the cliches and with quality running through its veins like letters in a stick of rock.
"Cruel Hands Of Destiny" starts out ona slightly lighter synth wave, only for the guitars and rhythm section to motor in with an altogetehr harder edge than the opener, while the vocals soar, roar and snarl with eerie menace, delivering a song that not only sounds fantastic but has a lyrical quality that outs it into an altogetehr higher league of metal songsriting than prctically any other band around right now. In a world of so-called "intelligent" goth-metal-esque stylings, this is verging on genius level. Once again, the synths provide the forefront of the attack while the band still maintains a sound that is undeniably heavy with those awesome vocals practically the epitome of industrial goth-metal on their own. A truly stunning track that many a more famous band would kill to have composed.
"Mr Federal" opens with Hawkwind-like space synth swoops before this sensational sea of metal guitar riffing and rhythm section terrorising takes the song into its metal dimensions, while another cutting-edge vocal performance erupts from the speakersas the song, this time, twists and turns through assorted moods and paces for maximum dynamic effect, the song once again written superbly with lyrics that reallly give pause for thought. This time the synths take more of a back seat to the metal in the first half of the song, eventually duelling and adjoining as the song progresses through its various movements and another spectacular gem of a track.
"A Scar Is Born"takes a breather from the density and intensity of the previous tracks, opening up as a ballad with lilting bass and gentle chorus - only then to erupt in a blaze of slowly fiery goth-industrial rock that climbs higher and higher as the whole band provide this canvas of scorching instrumental heat and the vocals surge ahead, just as clear, focused, emotive and powerful as they've consistently been to date, continuing one of the finest vocal performances on a metal CD for aeons. As it all builds and drops, then repeats the process, the instrumentation and feel emulates the song's content but predominantly stays as a slice of searing heat orchestral goth-metal.
The EP ends with "Serotonin", as a punishing pace is set by the drums, bass and guitars, the synths entering to fly all around the mix as the vocal performance intinsifies even more from what you've heard so far, another fascinating set of lyrics making it so addictive as a track. Once more then whole instrumental expanse rises and builds to provide this immense soundscape that saws its way into your head with a shattering intensity but one that you can't get enough of as you soak up every metal-tipped second of its undeniably heavy and powerful pleasures.As the guitars and bass become this metallic fireball, an organ-like synth introduces an almost hymnal slice of vocal menace before it all takes off once more, the synths swirl and the band has all guns blazing as they come to a sudden and quite breathtaking stop.
Two extra tracks feature a "Dead Hand Mix" of "The Intersection", which adds this jaw-droppingly powerful pace and dance-mix approach to the song providing it with layers that are just stunning, a dimension and an undeniably addictive instrumental hook that adds a whole new sense of weight to an already sensational track, and this could become one of the best industrial dance-metal remix tracks of all radioland if there was any justice - a track that will rip up metal and industrial discos from one end of Europe to the other.
The second is a "Muppetdriller mix" of "Serotonin" and here the intial effect is of industrialising the whole thing as the vocals become even more phased while a buzz-saw riff runs through its body, eventually the sound of electro-dance beats giving it an almost metal-meets-drum 'n' bass sound to the proceedings as the repetitive intensity become almost unnerving, additional layers being added to the mix as it travels through your skull with a slowly relentless dynamic power. Probably the most overtly industrial track on the whole CD, it nevetheless is every bit as sensational as the rest of it.
So, more an album length than an EP, not a less than riveting second on the entire thing and one of the best slice of industrial rock with metal and goth overtones, on the rplanet right now, one that is surely destined to put yet another absolutely unique Dundee Scene band firmly and squrely on the wants list of every industrial rock fan around today.