ALBUM REVIEW: Flesh Of The Dead – The Necromancers Union

It’s always interesting to check something out that tries to meld a few different things together, in this case, THE NECROMANCERS UNION‘s take on doom rock, with elements of prog, classic hard rock and 80s alternative rock blended together. It’s quite a demand for a debut album to take three such prolific genres and make them into something a bit different, but on this occasion, it does kind of work. There is plenty to like among the eight tracks – some catchy guitars, vocals which definitely call back to the old era of gothic rock and 80s alternative, when BAUHAUS and company reigned supreme, amongst other things, yet something feels not quite there with it as a full release.

Vocally, Daniel Belasco captures the 80s vibe well, with a style that definitely harkens towards the likes of Peter Murphy, Billy Idol and Andrew Eldritch, showed best on the likes of the rather tongue-in-cheek Clowns Of Death – quite possibly influenced by cult classic movie Killer Klowns From Outer Space, judging by some of the lyrics – and Shadows, which showcases more of a FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM feel in terms of the synth backing and bass line, both of which feel heavily influenced by that band’s track Moonchild. This comes across in a manner that sits on the cusp of homage and a bit too close to that track for personal comfort, something that does crop up another time or two on other tracks of this release.

Crossing The Line almost feels like it’s influenced by the likes of DEEP PURPLE at the outset before it heads a bit more into the regular 80s territory that pervades the release like the decades-old dirt of a grave, while the likes of Pit And Pendulum show a softer, more delicate side that adds genuine depth to the songwriting and showcases the wider range of Belasco‘s abilities. This wider range of influences into something that is clearly a tilt towards the classic gothic rock and alternative market actually works well with both of the aforementioned tracks and goes to show that there is definitely the seed of something good in this release, though the perennial difficulties of the sophomore release for any artist means that there is a genuine interest in quite what Belasco will do next.

This has actually been a hard one to score, as you almost find yourself wanting to like it more than you maybe do. It is an easy listen but it doesn’t feel like there is great storytelling in the main. It has to be noted, to his credit, that this is a one-man project at this stage, so maybe the lack of others to bounce ideas off has influenced this, as few acts of note rely so utterly on one person for all parts of the creativity. There is clear musical talent and songwriting ability already, as is demonstrated on numerous occasions through the album, and as a debut release, there is definitely promise of what could come in the future if Belasco finds the right bandmates to join him and tweak a few things. Currently, it just seems to sit as an entity that has good potential but doesn’t quite seem to realise it, though the high points do feel like they could genuinely sit well amongst their peers.

Rating: 7/10

Flesh Of The Dead is out now via Petrichor Records.

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