I reckon Nuclear Blast think they’ve found a band who have inhabited a small gap in the Metal market – it is their job after all, but they might just be right. It’s probably a sound that only a band with musicians all in their early 20’s (though so bearded and long-haired that they are, I would have put a few more years on them) could have come up with. In a nutshell, what if you blended Black Label Society, Black Stone Cherry and Pantera? You’d have to do it well and the balance would have to be right – gravel-throated but melodic vocals, Pantera riffing and a BLS groove and lead guitar. It’s an attention grabber that’s for sure.
It’s not all that clear cut of course – the excellent ‘Truck Stop Special’ is a great example of Anti-Mortem at their riff-tastic best, and yes it has an inimitable, infectious BLS swagger to it (as does ‘Words Of Wisdom’ with it’s soaring solos). Their Pantera side particularly shines through on the angst-ridden ‘I Get Along With The Devil’. But here and there are occasional splashes of Alice In Chains, a little Nickleback in ‘Black Heartbeat’ and the title track seems to effortlessly skip between Testament circa “The Ritual” and 70’s Alice Cooper. Personally I enjoy the band the most when they keep the heaviness in, but groove it up a bit like on ‘Stagnant Water’ (where the band particularly remind me of Brand New Sin) and ‘Jonesboro’, where they have Down-type similarities. But that’s just one side of their sound and only part of their appeal. There’s always a chunky, crunchy riff waiting on every track, the lifeblood of Metal itself, and each song feels like the “riff came first” method of writing has been applied – the one that all the best Metal tracks sport. But also there is a memorable vocal hook waiting to entice the casual listener. Each song is just that little bit different to all the others – there isn’t one track you can pick out that defines their sound – that would make my job far too easy! The comparisons every listener will find to different bands will be many I’m sure…but that same listener probably won’t have heard them all blended together in such a natural, explosive and effective way.
One thing with Anti-Mortem that shines through is that they will appeal to crusty old stoners, young thrashers and devotees of the current retro scene alike. And many in between! They can tour with so many of their label-mates – Graveyard, Scorpion Child, Chrome Division, Tarot, Soilwork, Anthrax, Scar Symmetry, and fans of any of those bands will find plenty to relate to in Anti-Mortem’s sound. I think Nuclear Blast might just be feeling quite smug with themselves.
(8/10 Andy Barker)
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