GODSIZED - EP review added 15th April 2009
Album Review: Brothers In Arms EP (2008)
For fans of: heavy metal... and unexpected influences
Godsized are an interesting entity. They play a heavy rock/metal with influences of U.S. bands like Black Label Society and, in places, Slayer. Lead singer Glen sounds like a combination of Zakk Wylde and Tom Araya, with more than a passing hint of Chris Cornell. All well and good so far, but the confusion starts when you realise the band come from Croydon on the south side of London... in the UK.
I've seen these guys play live and, whilst they were excellent, the shock of hearing the Dixie metal followed by English accents is akin to meeting a deeply tanned African with a Scottish cadence. It's confusing to the extreme, but actually quite refreshing all the same.
The songs are all of a good standard and, whilst there are no absolute ball-breakingly great tracks, every one of them has at least a few moments of brilliance. Be it an inspiring guitar solo, impassioned vocal, fat bass or rhythmically arousing drum interlude, there is a lot to like. The production is up to the job too, with enough clarity to get the sound across, but still a characterful haze in the mix to keep the vibe where they want it.
Brothers In Arms is a good debut release. For my tastes it needs bigger choruses and, perhaps, more effort put into making some truly epic and memorable songs... rather than merely technically brilliant ones. Purely from a performing and 'sound' point of view, however, Godsized are well and truly in the zone already.
Check out... Glen's Tom Araya vocals on the title track.
Track List:
1. Fight & Survive
2. Brothers In Arms
3. Head-heavy
4. Walking Away
5. The Last Goodbye
Artist's websites: MySpace
