London based trio Treason has their roots firmly established in the 80s when the UK metal scene was awash with thrash outfits. At that time the band was a quintet and based on my own experience of the time and relative intolerance of metal fans to accept nothing unless it was thrash, Treason split with some members notably forming the critically acclaimed Pulkas. Various other projects unfolded but fast forward to 2011 and an album of material featuring demo tracks and cuts from the Ego Prime project made it onto the “Lambs To The Slaughter” album and was released through Casket Records. With a much more stable line in place the band has finally released their sophomore titled “Hell Is A Place On Earth” during 2012. Now you’re asking why I am reviewing this in 2013, well to tell you the truth this is an absolutely blinding album that came by my way via another writer and I felt compulsively that some media attention is deserved here.
Kicking this album off is the stoner like riff on “A Stranger To Myself” and not too dissimilar to the likes of the iconic Pentagram, with that doom undercurrent on the beat. Vocally this is exceptional with a crystal clear delivery by John Seaton, who also shreds sizeable frets on this too. As the song hits the lead you’ll be taken sharply back to NWOBHM with polished old school solos making your ears bleed. When “Point Of No Return” starts up the riff is sublimely different to what you would expect, with keyboards injecting atmosphere and substantial passion to the monumental riff. The song went straight onto a compilation when I went to see Grand Magus early in 2013. Surprisingly the song has a deft speed and thrash touch with the pace swinging full scale into the outside lane for some double kick demolition and a solo that Kirk Hammett would dearly love to be able to still write if he had the balls.
“Crown Of Thorns” is an example of a band utilising as many techniques as possible as for me this reminded me of Uriah Heep, due to the vocal line especially and guitar melody. Each tune on this album is starkly different to the next and whilst the template for the album is heavy metal there are a myriad of twists and turns on with “Fallen Angel” being a perfect example of how to write a heavy song that drills into your very soul and implants itself permanently on your brain for the rest of your life; these songs are that memorable. As I hinted at earlier the lead work on this album is exquisite, with the solos being breathtakingly emotive and executed with pristine skill that will bring tears to your eyes.
I could quite easily write a paragraph for each song on this album with “I Want To Live” being another very different song that begins with a rolling drum beat and hypnotic singing before the whole tracks shifts into meaty heaviness that borders old school speed and a breakneck lead. There is a massive amount of groove on this album that backs up every tune whether it’s the riffs, the bass lines, the drums or the vocals. Listening to this numerous times I hear many familiar hooks like stuff from Sabbath in the 70s, Diamond Head for the leads and 70s acid rock (Hawkwind I guess). “Looking At The Sun” has a great riff very like something from Sabbath’s “Sabotage” album for me and reinforced by the superb leads yet again.
The closing epic composition is “Death Rattle” a ten minute monster tune that takes its cue from old Candlemass with captivating and mesmerising power. Being an epic means the song is peppered with guitar breaks and subtle changes coupled to influxes of double kick for added density. This is a brilliant album and it costs less than seven quid on their site and I guarantee that if you like old 70s rock, NWOBHM, doom rock etc you will totally worship this album from start to finish like I am and will do for all eternity.
(9/10 Martin Harris)
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