EP REVIEW: All At Your Mercy – Pleiades

The UK is currently overflowing with that many talented, hungry artists that it is becoming an unenviable task to keep track of all of them. One of the shining stars comes in the form of Manchester based quintet PLEIADES who are poised to unveil their latest release and follow up to 2016’s Symptoms Of The Human Being entitled All At Your Mercy which is out now via AWAL. Will this effort unlock the door for this hot and rising prospect?

Lotus Tree commences with a pulsing drum beat and soothing ambience before beginning to gather momentum, transitioning into waves of energetic fury. The scathing screams of front man Andy Calderbank immediately raise the intensity as the immersive melody continues to surround the track. Following track Ultra possesses pretty heart wrenching subject matter and a solemn tone, focusing on the unfortunate events which occurred at Grenfell Tower. The mood ebbs and flows between contemplative moments and bursts of raw aggression which effortlessly mesh together in a whirlwind of emotion.

Alpha resumes the floating nature and subtle demeanour drawing you into the captivating atmosphere which is unfolding. Rich guitar tones and piercing bass lines display an impressive vibrancy, particularly when the song picks up the pace towards the midway point. Mesa possesses a darker, more ominous vibe reminiscent of BLACK PEAKS with it’s buoyant tempo and alluring melodies. The screams and soaring vocal work join forces to add a further level of dynamics which are particularly engrossing. All At Your Mercy wastes little time ramping up the aggression once more for one last volley of venomous rage before transforming into drifting riff segments and hypnotic tones. The intensity continues to boil over right until the closing stages which will leave your spine tingling.

PLEIADES have managed to make every second of this release count and have created a compact yet visceral experience. All At Your Mercy will take you through the entire emotional spectrum as beauty sways back and forth throughout the carnage. Unlike some outfits in the post-rock/metal scene they have mastered the art of making sure the track retains it’s captivating attributes for the duration without becoming too overindulgent and losing its spark. There is so much to digest within the copious textures on offer that will have listeners returning over and over again.

Rating: 9/10

All At Your Mercy is out now via AWAL.

Like PLEIADES on Facebook.