Album
Type: Full-length
Date
Released: September 29 in UK / October 7 USA & Canada
Label:
Napalm Records
Following
the Beast – track listing:
1.
Remedy
2.
Land of the Lost
3.
Hellbender
4.
Break the Chains
5.
Celestial Warrior
6.
In Benevolence
7.
World of Sin
8.
Remember
9.
Absence of Trust
10.
Warlords of Doom
Bonus
Tracks:
11.
Into Oblivion
12.
Silent Walk
Band
Members:
Vocals
- Tony Sunnhag
Guitar
- Stefan Jonsson
Guitar
- Markus Albertson
Bass
- Kalle Svedåker
Drums
- Tony Sandberg
Review:
With
the recent slew of output from melodic death metal titans like At the
Gates and Carcass, and the glut of doom/blackened/sludge/stoner bands
trying to grow their beards out in time to be featured on Noisey, it
was only a matter of time before a new generation of melodic death
metal bands rose up and started shredding in earnest. Let it be
known now that Gormathon were among the first of this new pack of
melodic death metallers, and definitely one of the best. For
Gormathon, there are a slew of Gothenburg influences apparent on
their sophomore full-length, “Following the Beast”, but the
Swedish five-piece have enough talent and chops to stand out on their
first release for Napalm Records. As you would expect, there are
plenty of harmonizing dual guitar solos throughout the record, as
well as chugging death metal rhythms that at times verge dangerously
close to nü-metal – for which In Flames deserves just as much
blame as Gormathon.
However,
there’s a welcome variation of vocal styles here, from full on
death metal grunts, to thrash-tinged growling, to surprisingly
operatic high notes. While the band’s image screams melodic death
metal, there’s a significant debt to power metal on this record,
especially when it comes to Gormathon’s lyrics. Sometimes they
stumble into silliness with near-Manowar levels of self-empowerment.
But let’s be honest here: with the never-ending glut of doom and
black metal posturing in the metal scene, it’s a bit refreshing to
have an album you can bang your head to without immediately
envisioning mutilated bodies or ritual sacrifice.
Plus,
it’s nice to have an album without a requisite 14 minute
doom/prog/space epic. In fact, the longest song on “Following the
Beast” clocks in at just under five minutes – there’s something
to be said for concise, solid songwriting. After a solid start with
album opener “Remedy,” the album really peaks in the middle, with
the trio of “Celestial Warrior”, “In Benevolence” and “World
of Sin” standing out as pounding, catchy metal throwbacks. There’s
some filler on the album proper, which makes the “bonus”
designation of the killer track “Into Oblivion” utterly puzzling.
But even for its shortcomings, “Following the Beast” is an album
that I’ll keep coming back to. The lesser tracks haven’t grown
on me much, but there’s a hint even better things to come for
Gormathon. While this isn’t the band’s “Slaughter of the
Soul,” it’s honest, earnest, epic, and 100% free of hipster
bullshit.
Reviewed
by Mark Ambrose
Thanks
to Mona, Jon and Andy at Napalm Records for sending us a promo to
review. Following The Beast is available from all good stockists now
on Napalm Records.
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