What would you expect a project helmed by Mitch Harris (Napalm Death’s guitarist for the past 25 years) to sound like? Just to assist with that, I’ll also throw in Shane Embury & Frederick Leclercq (Dragonforce) sharing bass duties, Derek Roddy (Malevolent Creation / Hate Eternal) on drums and Nicola Manzan (Jesu) on strings. Mitch himself handles guitars and vocals.
What do you think? Because I guarantee you’ll be as surprised (and hopefully as delighted) as me.
Anyone expecting a full on death / grind assault is gonna be disappointed. This is an album to come into with an open mind and the pay off is magnificent with one of the most audacious & unique listening experiences you’ll have this year.
Well, what does it sound like then? The instant comparison is mid period Voivod, say around ‘Nothingface’ & ‘Outer Limits’, with a cocktail of progressive rock, some dissonant thrashy riffs and, certainly on some tracks some really anthemic pop melodies. This whole project is clearly a deep labour of love for Mitch. It is both complex & multi layered (without being wanky and self-indulgent) and at the same time accessible and downright infectious in parts – the brilliant lead single ‘I Live With Your Ghost’ is a great example of this. There’s also a smattering of the industrial / techno stomp of Peter Tagtgren’s Pain and the futuristic cosmic waft of Kovenant.
Mitch’s excellent clean vocal style suits the material to a tee and is in itself a great surprise if you’ve only seen him belting out tracks like ‘Low Life’ at Napalm shows. Lyrically the songs deal with such subject matter as loss, relationships and overcoming hardship not in a miserable Marillion way but in a strangely uplifting style.
Obviously each musician is at the top of his game but Mitch really takes flight on this project, his guitar work is so inventive, the song writing so complete that I’d be surprised if this record isn’t in most critics top 3 of 2014 come December.
Topped off with some fantastic artwork and another first class production job from Russ Russell, this really is a ‘must buy’ for all fans of not only extreme metal but hard rock too. A beautifully realised and masterfully put together album.
(9.5/10 Mark Eve)
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