Never Obey Again are an Italian Modern Heavy Metal band, jumping in at the deep end with this, their impressive debut album – an accomplished and attention-grabbing start to any band’s career. It’s always nice to be in at the beginning of a band’s journey, to hear how the band see themselves now, to appreciate the months or even years it’s taken to get to this momentous moment, so much planning, so much hope. And the emphatic statement of intent this band is making right from the off is sure to make many a Metal fan pay attention.
I think it’s safe to say that Never Obey Again’s “The End Of An Era” is one catchy album. Applying their own take on a modern electronic infused Heavy Metal sound, every song leads you urgently and decisively, like a hungry Labrador to the cupboard where the biscuits are kept, into a clinging, unyielding vocal line, hook and/or chorus. Initially, they don’t really appear to mess around with complex riffs (though there is an absolute belter at the end of ‘What If’, a recurring highlight through ‘Wake Up’, ‘Zombie’ and elsewhere as you delve deeper), unnecessary musical atmosphere building or audio-picture painting. But it doesn’t take long before you realise this album is far from being disposable or superficial – this is an expertly crafted, intelligent, multi-layered gem.
Basically, when you open the door to each song, just a crack to see what’s inside, it throws itself against the light, grabs you by the throat and refuses to be ignored. Then, like the aforementioned amiable pooch, slobbers all over you and showers you with affection. Every song is geared towards dynamic upbeat impact, the music is diverse within its own style parameters, the drums drive every song from its core and the guitars vie with the electronics in an intelligent and engaging way. This presents the perfect platform for the enigmatic vocals of Carolina Bertelegni to shine. She delivers every vocal line with the confidence of a vocalist with twice her experience, giving a resounding crowning quality to every composition.
Never Obey Again are a confident, swaggering addition to anyone’s collection that might include Smackbound, Metalite, recent Within Temptation and label mates Volturian. A band with a clear vision and a concise vision that they’re laying out right from the start. As a self-confessed Power Metal devotee with a penchant for Symphonic and Folk Metal, I seem to be getting gradually hooked into this style of Metal, despite every fibre of my musical being telling me it shouldn’t be so. But this is only being facilitated by acts such as Never Obey Again who deliver their given style in such a professional and infectious way that it’s almost impossible to resist.
(8/10 Andy Barker)
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