PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
When I saw Heaven Asunder support Blood Command at the Exchange in Bristol in June, I mentioned to watch out for a full review of them in the future. Well, that time is now. Released earlier this week, Among the Damned is the quintet’s debut album on S-a-N Ltd and their second release after 2011’s EP Dead Man’s Waltz. Formed in Bristol itself in 2009, Heaven Asunder have gone on to support many big names across the alternative world including Fearless Vampire Killers, Crown the Empire and Issues, and will be heading out again this year across the UK to support the new record along with snapping up a lucrative touring slot alongside 36 Crazyfists and Idiom.
What is exciting about Heaven Asunder is that they’ve taken elements from three of the biggest rock and metal bands around today – Killswitch Engage, Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for My Valentine – shoved them into a massive pot and poured out what can only be described as music gold. It’s ten tracks of relentless, fast metal that shows off exquisite guitar work, pounding drums and killer vocals. Opening number Shallow Graves is an excellent beginning, the riff drawing you in immediately and getting your head banging – there’s no gradual build up, it hits you full on in the face, with Matt Boyd expertly going from extreme screaming to melodic singing. Of Coat of Arms continues the trend and you’d be forgiven if you needed to pause the album at this early stage just to grab your breath. Lewis Blake and Ally Roberts are so skilled and synchronised that envisioning the duos of Gates/Vengeance and Tuck/Padget trading the licks and solos on show here is all too easy. No, I’m not saying they rip them off, I’m saying they’re that damn good at what they’re doing. Roberts also provides excellent back vocals. In support, bassist Lewys Ball keeps the four-string rumbling on in the background very nicely indeed with drummer James Whitlock ensuring that every possible moment is taken up with fills and tricks before getting back into the groove and providing a more-than-enough solid foundation for his bandmates to build on.”Forget everything you thought was me, you’re better off alone…this was never meant to be” come the lyrics in Reviver, another strong point on the release.
But in a world where a lot of bands are pulling brakdowns out left, right and centre amongst their material, Heaven Asunder have shown they’re more than just a one-trick pony. Nothing More brings the mayhem down a few notches mid song but retains the high quality present throughout the album whilst Lest We Be Scattered is certain to incite furious pits and huge sing-a-longs during the chorus in equal measure. The band have also made sure each track is diverse enough that they all stand on their own two feet and do not sound similar to one of another. Furthermore, the album is also so perfect in length that when State of Things to Come has faded out it would take more than a mortal human being not to go back to the beginning and start all over again; I honestly can’t remember the last time I was upset to hear an album finish and immediately play it again but this one has certainly reset the counter to zero.
Put simply, Heaven Asunder are the best thing to come out of Bristol since Banksy and Isengard Kingdom Brunel and with Among the Damned have proved that Massive Attack are in real danger of losing their crown as the city’s biggest musical success. Happy New Year indeed – this is one album you can’t afford to miss.
Band lineup
Matt Boyd – vocals
Lewis Blake – lead guitar
Ally Roberts – guitar, backing vocals
Lewys Ball – bass
James Whitlock – drums
Track listing
1. Shallow Graves
2. Of Coat and Arms
3. Nothing More
4. Reviver
5. Another Broken Soul
6. The Silencer
7. Last Rites
8. Lest We Be Scattered
9. Stranded
10. State of Things to Come
Links
http://www.facebook.com/HeavenAsunder
http://www.twitter.com/HeavenAsunder
