ALBUM REVIEW: No Mercy From Electric Eyes – Death Ray Vision
DEATH RAY VISION are a band with a whole load of pedigree when it comes to metalcore and hardcore. With members and former members who have served time in KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SHADOWS FALL, CANNAE, OVERCAST, SEEMLESS, RAMALLAH and PANZERBASTARD among others, they were always going to have that metallic hard edge to their music and they have proved it throughout their existence.
While the albums the band have released have been pretty sporadic (their first album We Ain’t Leavin’ Till You’re Bleedin came out in 2013 and it’s follow up Negative Mental Attitude came out five years later), DEATH RAY VISION seem to like bringing out their records after every half decade as they return with their latest album No Mercy From Electric Eyes. With a new line-up firmly in place, the band take the opportunity with the new album to announce that they are back and they are re-energised to their full power. New vocalist Keith Bennett fits in very well and his commanding voice perfectly complements the muscular grooves of the music of DEATH RAY VISION.
Behead The King is a fantastic opening song with a galloping IRON MAIDEN-esque intro that sets up what is to come as the track explodes into life and from then on in it is an eclectic ride that takes in a whole host of sounds that influence the band. There are straight up hardcore influences here, there any influences from the more metallic end of hardcore too, and there are metal influences as well as more straightforward hard rock influences and it all adds up to a very enjoyable listening experience.
From the catchy and anthemic In Unholy Water to the banging hard rock of Reaper to the manically energetic hardcore blast of From The Rafters, No Mercy From Electric Eyes is packed full of great songs that fully showcase how eclectic and fully focussed a band DEATH RAY VISION are. With Bennett on strong form vocally, the rest of the band in guitarists Chris Rosati and Pete Cortese and the rhythm section of bassist Mike D’Antonio and drummer Colin Conway complement those vocals with an eclectic range of sonic grooves.
While the band embrace the present and future with the album, there is a great touch where they salute their past with a guest appearance from original vocalist Brian Fair on the track Broken Hands Of God and this shows that DEATH RAY VISION have a lot of integrity as a band with the links to where they started still relevant.
As the album concludes with the pounding End Me, it is clear that DEATH RAY VISION have made a record that defines them as a band and we’re sure we will hear more from them sometime in the next five years, but hopefully sooner as they are gaining more and more momentum with every release.
Rating: 7/10
No Mercy From Electric Eyes is out now via Metal Blade Records.
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