An album that initially divided its fan base and the band themselves. Tagged as a return to new metal by the press, the album definitely divided opinions that’s for sure. It just sounds like Machine Head adding a few moments of weirdness to proceedings, and I think this is a great album.
Volatile is a brutal first track, pounding double kicks all the way and a rhythm that Slipknot would be proud of and that riff is killer. The title track follows and this is where the Nu Metal tags starts, mainly due to the melodic interludes that slip in with the ferocity. That breakdown though is killer. It’s favourite track time next with Beyond The Pale. I mean that riff is undeniably freakin’ awesome, c’mon what’s not to like? You even get a hook and chorus you can sing to. California Bleeding brings an end to Side 1. A great groove to this one, with a slower tempo, and the middle eight has a classic metal vibe to it.
Back to the ferocity and angst with Triple Beam, this is the song that has the Korn comparisons both with the heavy groove and the spoken vocal. A very dark tune indeed! Kaleidoscope is old school hardcore Machine Head. A fast heavy groove with Rob spitting out the vocals. Bastards starts like a lullaby with just vocal and a guitar, and ends up sounding like the Pogues on steroids. Hope Begets Hope closes out Side 2 with a phased pounding drum and a simple chugga riff interspersed with melodic interludes.
A monstrously heavy guitar and pounding drum groove opens up Side 3 opener Screaming At The Sun. The people that said this album wasn’t as heavy as previous efforts must have been listening to a different record. Just because moments of melody appear throughout the album doesn’t mean it’s not a heavy album. Behind A Cloud is a very laid back acoustic piece, and adds some welcome dynamics to the album. Side 3 comes to a close with Heavy Lies The Crown. A slow atmospheric build up with strings adds to the atmos before the song explodes into life with a great chugga riff. An epic piece that is the showcase of the album.
Psychotic opens up Side 4, a pounding heavy beast with a ripping thrash groove half way through. Grind You Down has a low down in the sewer heavy riff, and is one of the more quirky sounding tunes and yet it’s also one of the heaviest. Great evil guitar tone! Next up is Razorblade Smile. A classic Machine Head tune, boy does this baby motor along. Killer riff and groove! Eulogy close out the album in angelic fashion with what sounds like a lone choirboy over the top of Rob’s spoken word vocal. Then the dissonance kicks in about halfway though.
As I said, I like this album, it’s not their best but it’s still a kick-ass record.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
