Having put out two previous EPs since forming in 2008, ‘Free From The Clutches of Gods’ is the debut full length release of this French band. Described as ‘modern death metal’, there sure is a lot of US-styled deathcore in their sound, so much so that I had to brush my teeth afterwards due to the sugary melodies that are ever-present accompanying their breakdown and chug-fest laden casserole of death.
Fans of Whitechapel, Black Dahlia Murder, Killswitch Engage and co. will likely be whipped into frenzy by the Lamb of God styled fuzzy guitar distortion, the grooving drum-work and the constant switching between high and low vocal growls (indeed, regularly used simultaneously and double tracked too), but it unfortunately leaves me wanting. Thankfully, this is more ‘death’ than the aforementioned bands, and there are no KSE inspired poppy cleanly sung chorus sections at least. But the super cleaned up, plastic packaged, overcooked saccharine drip-fed lifeless version of At The Gates’ ‘Slaughter of the Soul’ blueprint are all present for everyone to hear. Thus, all in all, this album comes across as angry as the few early 00’s Aborted albums that most people thought were pretty lame, but without as much of their inventiveness or riffage.
Melodious solo runs are splashed throughout, interweaved with rhythmic chugging and the occasional guitar noodle to end a riff. The aforementioned double tracked vocal abuse is a constant feature, with occasional dips into something that registers nearer to the much maligned pig squeal. But, it’s not all doom and gloom. Occasionally these guy do hit the jackpot with some impressive solo work that would make even the most seasoned guitarists pull out some extra wanking sessions, but those times are few and far between amongst the clean, sterile chugging and super-sugary melodies and standard drum-fare.
I can’t really rave about this band or this album. There are a string of other bands that I could name that use pretty much the same style of musical approach to Hybrid Sheep, but with either more gusto or some sort of x-factor to set them apart in some way. Personally, I say let these guys drown in the torrent of shit. Meh!
(3/10 Lars Christiansen)
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