ALBUM REVIEW: Home – The Offering

It doesn’t happen very often. That feeling of having just listened to something very special, hearing the potential oozing from the speakers. Hopefully listeners will also get the same reaction after listening to Home, the debut album by Boston metallers THE OFFERING. If you’re a fan of bands who throw every metal genre into the melting pot to create their sound, then THE OFFERING are for you! ‘Crossover’ is the keyword for Home. The band will appeal to old school metal fans as well as the underground elite due to the group’s shift in styles throughout the album. They only get away with it because the songs are stellar. It also helps that vocalist Alex Richichi is a gem, the band have hit gold with having him in the ranks.

The magic begins with opener Waste Away. The opening riff would keep old school metalcore fans happy. Some may accuse guitarist Nishad George of recycling riffs when listening to the songs on Home, but George‘s ability to take all his influences and mould them into a fresh stance can only be admired. Waste Away sets the pace and energy for Home, with this opening track featuring one of the biggest choruses. The fast pace continues with Lovesick, but the riffs change gear to a COUNTING DAYS-esque groovefest. Subtle electronics are layered underneath which enrich the dynamic before the song sneakily shifts to power metal madness.

When the single Ultraviolence dropped, many made the observation THE OFFERING is what SLIPKNOT would sound like with Rob Halford on vocals. They’re not wrong, the main opening riff is a right stomper. The whole song is a gift which keeps on giving. It sounds like the band are trying to showcase every trick they have up their sleeve, especially Richichi who shines on this track. With one of the biggest vocal hooks on the album and a guitar solo SOILWORK would be proud of, THE OFFERING are flexing their manifesting talent. The results speak for themselves, Ultraviolence is a real tour de force.

Just as you start to feel you can predict where Home is heading, A Dance With Diana throws you off course. George chucks in another stomping riff, this time courtesy of the ’90s. With a brooding outro, things take a bit of a dark turn. This darkness continues with the obliterating Failure (S.O.S). The opening riff wouldn’t sound out of place on DIVINE HERESY‘s Bleed The Fifth. This quick pace is heightened by the machine precision drumming of Steve Finn. Failure (S.O.S) is a relentless and dangerously focused song with THE OFFERING‘s ambition on full display here. From beginning to end this track is epic and unstoppable.

Hysteria boasts one of the most crushing riffs and memorable choruses of the album. Everything is falling into place now it is the sixth track but THE OFFERING still have more to offer! On paper Richichi‘s vocal tone shouldn’t compliment the punishing riffs but it works and gives metal a refreshing bearing. Hysteria is followed by Glory, the penultimate track of beastly proportions. With plenty of monstrous solos, hooks and surprises, Glory ends up being a late highlight of Home.

The title track is 14 and a half minutes of THE OFFERING being their most dramatic. Home features George‘s most captivating riffs, but the song is stolen by Richichi and his gutturals which only make an appearance in this finale. There is a theatrical air to proceedings as well in the same vein as AVENGED SEVENFOLD, which also nods to the grand ambition of the band. This opus drifts a little too much into different styles, but each segment provides a new nugget we haven’t heard yet on Home. It also features the band’s heaviest offerings which springs one last surprise on the listener.

It cannot be ignored that the mainstream potential is there. With a bit of fine-tuning and nurturing of their sound, THE OFFERING could easily progress to heavy metal royalty.  If Home is received well then that will be the first step for this promising band to hit the big time.

Rating: 8/10

Home is out now via Century Media Records. 

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