ALBUM REVIEW: See Through – Ravenscroft
RAVENSCROFT are an alternative metal act compromised of four seasoned musicians who set out to deliver a heart-pounding, full throttle, driving force of an album in See Through, their first set of songs since 2018’s Rebel EP. For the most part, RAVENSCROFT achieve their goal but after the eighth and final track comes to a close what’s left is a solid but ultimately forgettable album that feels just short of the mark.
The talent within RAVENSCROFT is undeniable. The musicianship that flows throughout the tracks is quite evident and can be heard from the beginning of opening track Always Falling. Pounding drums lead into a beefy riff that is reminiscent of mid-2000 acts such as GODSMACK or SEVENDUST. The vocals especially have a Lajon Witherspoon tinge to them, which shows off the power and range of vocalist Ralph Buso. While you would be mistaken to think you know where the track is heading, there is a break in the middle section which opens up to a galloping riff which turns the by the numbers track on its head and keeps the listener engaged. Ralph‘s screaming vocals that are sprinkled throughout the album aren’t as strong as his clean singing but do give a little variation.
The one-two attack of Anything and Bed Of Nails (not an ALICE COOPER cover) picks things up and shows the band’s real talent for songwriting. It’s radio single material but that isn’t a bad thing at all in this genre that relies on rock radio airplay. They are catchy and their mid-tempo groove doesn’t let up and will keep heads banging through multiple plays. RAVENSCROFT knows how to write a chorus and is probably the biggest saving grace of this record. Bed of Nails especially will have you singing along straight away. Guitarist Brett Gorke is an unsung hero here with a tasteful solo that fits the song perfectly and showcases his talent.
Brett shines again on the title track, however, he seems a little low in the mix whenever it’s his time to shine which seems to be an issue with the whole album. The vocals are the high point again within this ballad that soars over the instrumentation and showcases Ralph’s impressive range and gritty rasp that he delivers throughout. Final original song Vengeance is Mine sadly doesn’t quite live up to the standard of the previous tracks. It’s lacking in a killer chorus and while it is still a decent track, something about it feels stale and uninspired. The rhythm section throughout this track and the whole album, in general, are tight and are fully in sync but are never given their opportunity to truly shine.
The last three tracks on the record include a cover of NINE INCH NAIL‘s Head Like a Hole and two remixes of Anything and See Through. The cover is decent enough and is quite similar to the original classic but while the two remixes give a different perspective of the album’s songs, they feel quite alienating and do not fit in with the flow of the album. It’s a shame RAVENSCROFT felt like they had to remix two tracks instead of adding two new original tracks as it makes the album feel more like an EP than a fully-fledged album.
See Through is a mini-album that showcases the band’s musicianship and talent for writing melodic metal but ultimately falls short of being anything greater than a decent set of tracks. The vocals and guitar work being the highlight throughout and helps this album score higher than it would if it were missing those key elements. There are a lot of positives to this album, which are sadly weighed down by some interesting track decisions, a muddy mix, and a lack of variation. There is great potential here, RAVENSCROFT just need to find that key ingredient to reach that next step.
Rating: 6/10
See Through is out now via Pavement Entertainment.
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