HUNTED - review added 21st July 2011
Album Review: Welcome The Dead (2011)
For fans of: Prog Metal
"Welcome The Dead" is the debut album Cardiff, Wales band Hunted. The group started as a four-piece cover band, and it wasn't until late 2010 that they became the five-piece they are today. Just after this, "Welcome The Dead" received a limited self-release and gained so much praise the band ended up signing a deal with German label Massacre Records...leading us up to today and this review.
The band's sound is madness personified. And I mean that in a nice way. They really remind me of Danish metal act Third Eye, whose 2010 album "Recipe For Disaster" boasts a similar progressive nature and off-the-wall vocals. Hunted are arguably a tad heavier, and the songs are not always so out-and-out catchy, but the quality of performance and songcraft is just as top endy.
I love the changes in speed, the combinations of prog, hard rock and death metal. Those vocals are so terrible they have gone full circle and become brilliant. I'm not sure Chris G could sing a Lionel Richie song, but for pure drama, character, and the ability to rip through heavy metal, he's in a class all by himself. He's backed up by some seriously fine musicianship, notably a ton of cataclysmic drumming.
Of the tracks, the huge 'Silence of Minds', the progressive deathliness of 'Silence of Minds', and the cover of Nevermore's 'The Heart Collector' are the best for me.
In Summation:
This is a great album. It works better as a whole than as individual tracks, but that's not to say there aren't exquisite moments throughout. Awesome.
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall (Not An Average Of The Above):
Track List:
01. Welcome the Dead
02. Silence of Minds
03. Chosen
04. Aria (In Memoriam)
05. The Incident
06. Impaled
07. Scars
08. I Want Nothing
09. Shadows
10. The Heart Collector (Cover of Nevermore track)
Band/Performers:
Chris G (Vocals)
Jonathan Letson (Bass Guitar)
Matthew ‘Animal’ Thomas (Drums)
Daniel Owen (Guitar)
Steven Barberini (Guitar)
Other Info:
Mixed and engineered by Tim Hamil at Sonic-One Studio, Wales
Mastered by John K
Label: Massacre Records
Artist's website(s): MySpace | Facebook
