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Soundshok

The Bringers Of Bloodshed

Written by: PP on 30/09/2008 18:16:36

Soundshok's bio revals that not much happens in Arbroath, a small Scottish coastal town, which makes it all the more ironic that the same applies for their album "The Bringers Of Bloodshed". My guess is these guys are experiencing an inferiority complex of some sort, being from such a small town and all, because their sound is characterized by an ultra masculine make-as-much-noise-as-possible type of macho rock attitude.

Lets start with their vocalist Andy Thain. His primal roar is a cross between the dudes in High On Fire, Mastodon and Sepultura, which should already give you an idea of how he sounds like, but in case it doesn't, consider this metaphor instead: Imagine a grizzly bear standing on two feet on a distant Canadian mountain, bursting into a vociferous vocal brawl with the bear on the opposing mountain. End result? An echoing, nonsensical mess that might scare your parents away, but offers little to a serious music fan.

Instrumentally, the band also sounds a little bit like High On Fire's drone/sludge metal, though with some moshcore influences from Hatebreed and perhaps a hint of the 'fuck you' attitude from any Max Cavalera-related record. In fact, if it wasn't for the god-awful production that sounds like a closet full of shoes were occupying the space between the band and the microphones, most Cavalera fans should find something to relate to here. But as it stands now, the production renders "The Bringers Of Bloodshed" into an immensely monotonous, and consequently a boring listen overall. To return to my point made earlier on, aside from the "FUCK YOU, IM A MAN MOTHERFUCKER" vibe of the record, not much is really going on here, just like back in Arbroath.

Download: Salvation Of The Wolves
For the fans of: High On Fire, Mastodon, Soulfly
Listen: Myspace

Release date 26.09.2008
Rising Records