Rateofdepress - Bleach The Sky
Casket Music - CSK026 - 2004
By Philip Whitehouse
It seems that nu-metal isn't quite dead yet, if the steady trickle of new bands dedicated to the style over the last few months is anything to go by. While I can hear the derisory groans already, take heart - it seems that the latest batch of nu-kidz-on-da-block have undergone something of an epiphany, going back to the 'alternative metal' roots of the movement rather than lazily copying Korn and impbizkit. From the emotive melodicism of Seethings, to the Faith No More-inflected epic sweep of Unjust, and now to the aggro-groove of Bournemoith quintet, Rateofdepress, nu-metal is beginning to get interesting again.
Formed in March 2002, this industrious group of musicians spent the first five months of their existence writing material, which later appeared on a demo EP. They then went off gigging with various notable underground Brit-metal acts (i.e. Brutal Deluxe, Fallen To, Defenestration et al) before re-arranging some material from that demo and adding new tracks to it to form this debut album. It obviously impressed Copro Records, who snapped them up to their Casket Music imprint. So, what does it sound like? Well, it sounds like an abrasive, aggro-fuelled blend of Coal Chamber-esque throat shreddings, groove-laden face-ripping guitar assaults, driving rhythms and some occasional jazzy influences worked into the mix. Throw in some whiney clean vocals and a nice ear for unusual, catchy lead guitar melodies, and there you have it.
As a debut, this is a pretty impressive effort. The band clearly have their own identity, as evidenced by the diversity of material on offer. Opener 'D.O.A.' is an attention grabbing smack in the face, propelled by ballsy, roaring guitars and some nice rolling drum fills, while 'Two Steps From Paradise' is an exhilarating stormer which flips from stop/start jerkiness to full-speed-ahead steamrolling groove in the time it takes a new Korn album to appear in bargain bins. Couple these with more considered, melodic tracks like 'Garden Of Roses' (which showcases both Rachel Mcgeehan's skilled melodic basslines and Marc Prior's diverse vocal stylings), and you have a pretty varied album.
Sadly, the consistency varies along with the material. 'DislekSICK' is pretty forgettable Deftones-worship after the hip-hop-esque sampled drum loop at the beginning, while 'Rise' doesn't seem to go anywhere much after the kick of its opening moments. However, these are concerns which should hopefully be ironed out with experience. As a debut offering, Bleach The Sky is an effective introduction to a band who are likely to become a staple member of the British underground metal scene.
7/10
Rateofdepress Official Website
Casket Music Website
Casket Music - CSK026 - 2004
By Philip Whitehouse
It seems that nu-metal isn't quite dead yet, if the steady trickle of new bands dedicated to the style over the last few months is anything to go by. While I can hear the derisory groans already, take heart - it seems that the latest batch of nu-kidz-on-da-block have undergone something of an epiphany, going back to the 'alternative metal' roots of the movement rather than lazily copying Korn and impbizkit. From the emotive melodicism of Seethings, to the Faith No More-inflected epic sweep of Unjust, and now to the aggro-groove of Bournemoith quintet, Rateofdepress, nu-metal is beginning to get interesting again.
Formed in March 2002, this industrious group of musicians spent the first five months of their existence writing material, which later appeared on a demo EP. They then went off gigging with various notable underground Brit-metal acts (i.e. Brutal Deluxe, Fallen To, Defenestration et al) before re-arranging some material from that demo and adding new tracks to it to form this debut album. It obviously impressed Copro Records, who snapped them up to their Casket Music imprint. So, what does it sound like? Well, it sounds like an abrasive, aggro-fuelled blend of Coal Chamber-esque throat shreddings, groove-laden face-ripping guitar assaults, driving rhythms and some occasional jazzy influences worked into the mix. Throw in some whiney clean vocals and a nice ear for unusual, catchy lead guitar melodies, and there you have it.
As a debut, this is a pretty impressive effort. The band clearly have their own identity, as evidenced by the diversity of material on offer. Opener 'D.O.A.' is an attention grabbing smack in the face, propelled by ballsy, roaring guitars and some nice rolling drum fills, while 'Two Steps From Paradise' is an exhilarating stormer which flips from stop/start jerkiness to full-speed-ahead steamrolling groove in the time it takes a new Korn album to appear in bargain bins. Couple these with more considered, melodic tracks like 'Garden Of Roses' (which showcases both Rachel Mcgeehan's skilled melodic basslines and Marc Prior's diverse vocal stylings), and you have a pretty varied album.
Sadly, the consistency varies along with the material. 'DislekSICK' is pretty forgettable Deftones-worship after the hip-hop-esque sampled drum loop at the beginning, while 'Rise' doesn't seem to go anywhere much after the kick of its opening moments. However, these are concerns which should hopefully be ironed out with experience. As a debut offering, Bleach The Sky is an effective introduction to a band who are likely to become a staple member of the British underground metal scene.
7/10
Rateofdepress Official Website
Casket Music Website
