ALBUM REVIEW: Elements – Siamese
Danish metal heavyweights SIAMESE have provided the Olympic-level delegation of catchy contemporary pop-metal to the global music scene. In their new album Elements, they contribute to the promising soundscape of the melodic metalcore, rising to popularity with acts such as BAD OMENS, BLIND CHANNEL and ELECTRIC CALLBOY, a genre that has truly soared in the last few years. How SIAMESE define themselves in their latest release will really determine their place amongst these high-rankings, forging their path to glory.
Whilst it may not be a race for SIAMESE, there are high expectations to deliver after 2021’s Home, the album that has put them on the map. The direction of Elements takes a road often travelled and at times leans into the experimental pop, industrial and synth influences, casting a wider net into more mainstream audiences. However, this does not hinder the outcome of the album, rather it elevates their sound.
Straight out of the blocks, their explosive first track, The Shape Of Water forges heavy hitting riffs that the track along like a war chant. With a drive similar to ARCHITECTS’ almighty Animals, techno elements really allow the opportunity to get lost in the grandiose of the song’s soundscape. The collaboration with French dreadnoughts TEN56. brought depth to their staggering breakdowns, but arguably more could have been done to blend the sounds of these two immense acts. The possibility to push the song further with beatdowns of a heavier sound is maybe a missed opportunity for SIAMESE, especially to create a harder-hitting impact in their opening song.
As The Shape Of Water moves into their next track, Vertigo, it promises an energetic direction for the band, which is catchy and enduring. Processed bass elements give the verses a real sense of grounding, allowing the chorus to bounce with the listener. The vocals match the energy, giving emotion and agency where it really does matter. Predator, is the high intensity release that changes the course of the album, providing the genre-bending possibilities akin to a band like SLEEP TOKEN. Levelling up their sound with DnB breakdowns, and combining musical conventions of dance with metalcore. Whilst Chemistry is the ballad of the album, anchoring meaning through their lovesick lyrics. The contrast of both tracks in tandem offers a beautiful texture to Elements.
SIAMESE have teamed up with French metalcore outfit RESOLVE for Through My Head. A standout on this record, this is the most fully formed track, leaning into those cascading choruses. The second half of this album does waver its experimental tendencies in favour of your well-respected traditional metalcore (apart from the final track). Deciding to cover ARIANNA GRANDE’s God Is A Woman halfway through an album was an interesting choice. There is no doubt this cover is a really solid contribution to the versatility of the original track, but does having a cover in this record really add anything?
Utopia really gives those full choruses similar to BRING ME THE HORIZON’s Medicine and LosT. Upbeat and building to something really spectacular, the track is the emotion resolution to the heavy riffs that weave themselves through the album. This is truly a moment for SIAMESE to fly. Hurricane utilises the epic choruses and adds damaging guitars that hit when it really matters. A return to form with a jungle beat running underneath the album. Having qualities of a standalone single, the construction of the track is impressive and the perfect culmination of SIAMESE’s identity as metalcore giants.
Like an afterthought, the final song- ironically titled This Is Not A Song – gives an extra two minutes of energy. A captivating direction for the band, with AI generated spoken lyrics, this is the hardest that SIAMESE have ever pushed for a song. “We are SIAMESE and we will send you off with a kiss,” finishes the record before the final detrimental breakdown.
Overall, there is a rich tapestry of sound, bringing together the perfect culmination of contemporary genre-blending metalcore. Technically and in terms of the overall mix of the record, the band are extremely sound. However, Elements leans into too much of what has already been established by heavy music. Without it sounding ‘generic’, the DnB elements give it that experimental texture it needs to counterbalance their signature sound with something fresh. SIAMESE has produced something that works and works well in our scene. There is no doubt that this album will go down well with its full release and how it becomes a cornerstone of the band’s future.
Rating: 7/10
Elements is out now via Long Branch Records.
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