ALBUM REVIEW: 3rd Degree – The Raising – Gemini Syndrome
Los Angeles’ alternative metal mob GEMINI SNYDROME arrived on the scene in 2013 with their debut Lux, which was chock full of arena busting anthems doused in nu-metal hooks that shone a great light upon a promising new group. Their follow-up Memento Mori, unfortunately, couldn’t quite live up to the heights that the debut set and while they enjoyed mild success with it commercially, it didn’t rocket them into the stratosphere as the saviours of the alternative metal generation. It lacked the drive and seismic melodies that are known to be the band’s strengths.
Five years later and the gang is back with the conclusion to a three album run that sees them return to form but not breaking any new ground. Opener Reintegration chucks the listener right back into 2013 with their now signature sound grabbing you like a familiar embrace. The hypnotic synths dotted within IDK are an interesting addition and the chorus will have you singing loudly. The breakdown hits with more force than you’d expect from the band.
Die With Me is a mid-tempo stomper that has ‘radio rock playlist’ written all over it. However, this is a track that a band like FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH wish they could write for commercial play. It’s catchy without the fluff. Up until this point, it’s pretty much business as usual. That is until the heroism of Baptized in Fire. This is a huge track that showcases the band as a whole and how they can write massive tracks with ease. Aaron Nordstrom‘s vocals have always been a big focal point for the band and yet again he proves he has a distinctive and incredibly powerful voice. His softer vocals have a touch of Maynard James Keenan about them from time to time. His voice is perfectly suited for tracks like the ballad Best of Me.
Abandoned’s nu-metal taste to it means it has a bounce to the riffs and will most likely be the work of ex-COAL CHAMBER guitarist Miguel ‘Meegs’ Rascon (his first recorded works with the band even though he joined in 2017), while the brooding basslines from Alessandro Paveri rumble through the driving Absolution.
As we head towards the tail end of the album it seems to lose its flow a little, chopping between softer and more in-your-face tracks. There’s also a sense of repetition within the track structures. Hold The Line aims to be a hard-hitting ballad but ends up swinging at the air. Where We Started From almost suffers from the same fate but finally connects with a powerful final third.
GEMINI SYNDROME are by far one of the better bands out there aiming for the arena stages and if they build upon this trilogy you could easily see them step into the shoes of bands like DISTURBED. While there’s still an overhanging feeling that GEMINI SYNDROME would have exploded within the scene over a decade ago, their brand of rock-radio friendly metal still has its place. 3rd Degree – The Raising moves them a step forward back onto the path of ascension and harkens back to their impressive debut which caps off an overall solid trilogy.
Rating: 7/10
3rd Degree – The Raising is out now via Century Media Records.
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