If an Argentinian band had released “Hand of God?”, I’d have sensed irony. Pitch Black Process, formerly known as Affliction and in existence since 1999, are in fact from Turkey but with Swedish connections, notably Niclas Engelin of In Flames and Engel. In addition the album was recorded, produced and mastered in Sweden.
“Hand of God?” is like homage to Swedish melodic metal. The first three tracks have the unmistakeable aura of In Flames. The strangulated vocals of “Fabricated Lives” are reminiscent of Pain, while “Sophisticated Facade” has the dark edge of Hypocrisy. The album’s opener “To The Villain” is noteworthy for its fast, melodic and twisting metal but the weak chorus does nothing for the energy. The title track features typically busy drumming and plenty of guitar intricacy but it seemed to be more about showmanship than strong songs. “Wake up now obedient consumer” is the trite lyric of “Fabricated Lives”. It’s nondescript and goes through a lot of motions to no obvious end. Here and there some drama appears. Both “Wither Away” and “Personal Apocalypse” have intensity and epic content to awaken the senses, but the power subsides. There’s little escape from the humdrum normality of aimless splattery aggressive melody. “Wither Away” ends in mid-air as if the band has run out of ideas.
“Personal Apocalypse” showed potential but “Distant Spheres” takes us back to the customary pattery pattery uncoordinated action. The vocalist develops a sore throat but I’d question whether it’s worth it. Thrash-crash-bang is interrupted by instrumental gymnastics. The accompanying vocals are belted out as if by mere shouting, it’s going to have impact. “Blinded” fades away uninspiringly, before the darker “Sophisticated Façade” hits us. There’s an unpleasant undercurrent from a keyboard instrument, then Pitch Black Process take us into furious territory before slowing down. There’s no real pattern, no discernible rhyme or reason. “Affliction Defiant” shows pretensions to being epic but is largely bland. The chorus is awful. A brief cyber moment makes it more interesting but it’s too late to be exploring new territory. Exploration is something that’s been lacking over the course of the ten tracks of this album.
Here is proof that aggression and fury alone aren’t going to get you anywhere. The style is familiarly Swedish. There’s melody but there’s nothing substantial, original or cohesive to go with it. I took very little from listening to “Hand of God?”
(4/10 Andrew Doherty)
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