It is always with great satisfaction when a band that may not be new in existence but new to the ear surprises and delights as in the case of UK rockers Promethium. Though the Lancaster band has been going for at least three years it is fair to say even with the acclaim for their debut EP ‘Tribute to the Fallen’ in 2009 they have not found the deserved notice outside of their more localised area, with their debut album Welcome to The Institution that is a situation that should be soon rectified as it finds its way into more ears and awareness.
Promethium emerged from the remains of Skin Crawl, Bodies, Desolate and Natual Thing, all bands well known and respected in the Lancaster / Morecambe music scene. This pedigree of Promethium brings a distinct and extremely skilled ability and song writing process to the band that is very evident upon the ten tracks that rumble within Welcome to The Institution. As represented by the band’s name the music they produce is a kind of by-product of varied rock ingredients such as hard rock, metal, classic rock, and thrash, all melded and worked into a resulting energised sound that with equal power, eagerness, and open accessibility entertains with honest enthusiasm and unrelenting intent. The one thing that stood out apart from the strength of the songs was that despite these varied influences apart from one time, they did not particularly remind me of any other band which is rare and that is never a bad thing.
Firstly to get the negatives out of the way, well just the one and that is the artwork, as well as being poor and generic in many ways it gives a wrong impression of the band, suggesting another formula rock band trotting out Sabbath/Maiden like tunes, and to those who run to the hills at the thought it is too easy to move on quickly without checking out what is a very fine release out. 
The album opens on the excellent instrumental ‘Distant Illusion’, which after the packaging’s initial interpretation immediately intrigues but also deceives a little, holding off from revealing the sounds to come, once ‘Visions’ bursts in with its hard rock vigour soon the truth is revealed. The song which is also the first video from the album is a perfect introduction to the band, its relentless riffs and addictive chorus openly inviting and impossible to not be joining in with by half way. It also shows the fine vocals of Gary Mogahon, filling the song with a delivery equal in power to the surrounding sounds.
As the tracks play the creativity of guitarists Daniel Lovett-Horn and Rossi is obvious, driving hard and flowing in all the right places backed by the intense drumming of Fraser and the calming and eventful bass of Wayne Ward. At times Ward’s riffs firmly hold a song in check and in others he adds distinct and throbbing inclusions of his own. The consistency from all across the whole album is very solid but three tracks really show the promise and a definite upward climb in popularity for the band.
‘Tribute To The Fallen’ flies with devastating wall crumbling riffs and harmonious vocals backed by growls that add a great extra dimension to the song. The heavier attack certainly suits the band as they skilfully blend it into melodic play that dances on the ear. This was the one time thoughts of another band came to mind, a Disturbed flavour seeping through though this track. Equally impressive are the closing duo of tracks ‘The Curse’ with a gloriously compelling bass sound and the mighty ‘Murder Inc’ showing murder based rock is more fun than one can imagine as drums pulse in the skull whilst intrigue and revelations in lyric and sound excites.
Welcome to The Institution is a great album and though the band still have a little way to go to find a sound immediately distinctive they have shown they are one of the more promising bands and should be watched closely in the future.
Welcome To The Institution is available now on Casket Music for details go to http://www.myspace.com/promethium666/
RingMaster30/08/2011
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