ALBUM REVIEW: This Is Tomorrow – Siege of Power
Featuring current and former members of AUTOPSY, ASPHYX and HAIL OF BULLETS, death metal supergroup SIEGE OF POWER have had plenty of time to acquire a much greater range of techniques and skills. To really hone a craft, you first need experience and this band definitely has that. Their latest release This Is Tomorrow features 11 songs which drummer Bob Bagchus promises will be “all killers, no fillers!”, but how well does that statement hold up?
Kicking off the album with Force Fed Fear, the band start off strong, with an intro consisting of hard-hitting riffs and intermittent drum beats. Blending these two elements together means one thing – guaranteed headbanging. Picking up the pace, the aggressive unclean vocals of Chris Reifert enter the picture. This heavy mixture of groovy and head-bopping riffs paired with some meaty vocals make for a catchy song. It also helps that in terms of lyrics, there aren’t too many words to remember.
The album really gets into the swing of things with third track Scavengers, coming in quick with a groovy riff and steady beat. Harnessing some purposefully strained vocals, Reifert entertains a catchy melody. The pacing of the lyrics and vocals almost sound like they are telling a story, taking you on a visual journey. Whilst the rhythm stays relatively consistent throughout, it doesn’t get too repetitive and keeps the bouncy tune going.
As the record progresses, Ghosts Of Humanity experiments with a slightly slower intro, drawing out the mixture of sounds coming from all the instruments. There is a range and depth to the vocals, experimenting with different levels to create more impact. Again, the vocals have this narrative feeling, taking you through a story made of metal. The deep riffs of this song are interrupted when the pace changes up towards the end. Then we get a fast-paced heavier section with more intense drum beats and vocals, and to top it all off a pinch harmonic element to end the song.
Another highlight is The Devil’s Grasp – a track which does not mess about. Taking a mid-toned riff and combining that with some fast-paced rhythms always makes for a good time, and when you add in the odd growl here and there, that’s when the magic happens. The band noted this track as being the one they wanted the most focus on, and it’s quite clear why. Changing things up towards the end of the song with a guitar solo is always a great choice, and in this particular case it contrasts with the more down-toned elements of their style, making for a nice surprise.
The album’s penultimate track No Salvation awakens the nostalgia in all of us with a classic drum count in. Playing around with different sound levels, this technique adds a different element to the rest of what we hear on this record. We are treated with some slightly heavier vocals than before which definitely add something to this track. It may be seen as a general rule that when a slowed down section enters the picture, you’re probably in for a treat. In this case, this leads into a chuggy half-time section, which is quite dramatic and atmospheric. It’s a solid way to end a track like this, and after that the band close out the record with its title track.
Overall, SIEGE OF POWER have managed to combine the huge range of their skills to create this new release, filling it with hard-hitting riffs and atmospheric lyric patterns. The songs fit well together and have clearly been mastered well, but maybe a couple more surprises throughout would have taken this album to the next level.
Rating: 7/10
This Is Tomorrow is set for release on February 17th via Metal Blade Records.
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