The sound of this band of 14 years is described as “a brutal mix of traditional metal metal meets 90s hardcore type sounds metal and a stoner-in-thrash alley”. The key here, I suspected, was always going to be the energy level.
Hard and heavy, riff-driven and melodic, this is unpretentious metal which would lend itself perfectly to live performance, much swirling of hair and maybe some moshing. Worselder get off to a flying start with the full-on “Para Bellum”. I just wanted to hear more and be part of this experience. Pantera and Skid Row were coming into my head. Worselder play sophisticated patterns, so it’s not straightforward metal. But it all has purpose, fire and elements of power metal. I actually preferred it when Worselder were a hard and heavy driving force to when they went into a type of power metal chorus, as they do on “Pillars of Smoke”. The deep heavy sections, no doubt accompanied by headbanging, are invigorating. “Absurd Heroes” is a kaleidoscope of heavy metal layers, but the ultimate aim is achieved: that of a fluid, intriguing and audience-friendly song.
The melodic intro to “Atheist” is classically metal. Drums roll, guitars growl and all in all it’s a dirty old metal song with attitude and firepower. The ominous sounding “The Exoteric Verses” starts with imposing doom-death before working through a thrash section and a vocal passage which reminded me a bit of Ozzy in the story-telling. But as with many of these songs, it doesn’t stand still and is a mixture of genres. It is fundamentally old school metal in style but of a kind which blends into powerful songs. “Insurgents” provides a change with an instrumental teaser, but this is part 1. Part 2 immediately follows with more familiar death – thrash riffage and a strong song structure. It occurred to me as I was listening to the vibrant “Insurgents part 2” that for the first time there was a guitar solo. It is to Worselder’s great credit and testimony to the fact that they are such a tight unit that they don’t need to give the album an artificial boost with ostentatious guitar solos. “Ascent to Rebirth” closes the album, and again it sweeps from dark echoed spoken vocals to a memorable and catchy riff while developing a dramatic heavy metal song. All I can say to these guys from the Pyrenean region of France is “bravo”.
This album is one for lovers of classic metal but it’s much more than that. “Redshift” manages to combine accessible songs with sophisticated and tight instrumental structures. It’s a great listen, high in the heaviness department and has bucketloads of life and energy.
(8.5/10 Andrew Doherty)
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