Switzerland….. not the first thing you’d shout out on Family Fortunes if asked “Name a country known for producing some brilliant metal bands”.
I mean yeah, you’ve got Celtic Frost, Coroner and er…. Krokus… but it’s not exactly a seething nest of metal awesomeness is it?
Well the Swiss have also spawned this lot too, Henriette B from the town of Tavannes, a metal-core five piece that have been on the go since 2009 and this 5 track EP is their latest release, following on from the ‘Cold Weapon’ single in 2013.
Musically we’re talking a derivative but very melodic blend of mid period In Flames and Black Dhalia Murder. Opener ‘Below Us All’ starts pleasantly enough, (The musicianship is tight as a mouse’s ear throughout this EP) but blimey….. as soon as the vocalist, Ian, opens his trap I was in fucking distress! The vocals kill this record dead for me. They are so harsh & one dimensional…. What are they thinking? The guys voice turns what would have been a not unpleasant listening experience into a bit of an ordeal.
Anyway, on with the positives….. No hang on, here’s another negative…. What’s with the annoying ‘bass drops’ every song? I hate that shit.
‘Enslave Our Future’ is a good tune with some really cool chugging guitar within the melodeath and quite inventive drumming. ‘Self Murderer’ is mid paced overall but has some neat little mini breakdowns but there’s a few points where the drums have that over triggered ‘tappity tappity’ sound to them. Like I said, musically the band are solid if a little ‘samey’ and certainly don’t bring anything new or particularly to the table. This band is not crap by any means. They are young, keen and obviously know what they’re doing but please – sort the vocals out, quit the bass drops and concentrate on the METAL!
(5/10 Mark Eve)
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