Since forming in 2010, Australian metallers Age Of Menace has not only carved a formidable and striking presence within the underground scene of their country but also across the internet taking the band in the arms of eager acclaim further afield and numerous radio shows, especially The Bone Orchard at www.Audioburger.com. The quartet from Sydney has always had a snarl and creative rapaciousness which has set them apart from most and a virulent passion within their devouring potent sounds but with the release of their new EP All Seeing Lie, the band has unleashed a new growl and intensity to their songwriting and presence. The four tracks making up the release all prowl and chew the senses like sonic predators, their carnivorous riffs, cantankerous rhythms, and intensity sculpted vocals combining for blistering slabs of aggressive invention and corrosive imagination. Age Of Menace has, since their previous release, evolved into a new bestial confrontation, one bringing stealth and deceptive contagiousness to the intent of sending senses and thoughts into the jaws of thrilling and scintillating aural danger. It is an exhilarating declaration of a band which is now a real irresistible force.
Consisting of vocalist Rob Smith, guitarists Pete Ross, drummer Adam Breakspear, and bassist Adam Barns who produced the band’s earlier releases and tracks before joining full time last year, Age of Menace merge a vicious vein of metal to equally impacting melodic rock temptation, the results music which chews and savages the ear and beyond whilst seduces them with addiction forming hooks and melodic enterprise to ensure only willing victims. There has always been an attitude and antagonistic edge to their music which you feel comes from the union of its member’s distinct personalities and their potent union and here too All Seeing Lie offers a new depth and intimidation which carves an even more indelible lure within the passions.
Opener My World charges at the ear from a distance, its emerging presence hiding a rabid appetite behind the coaxing guitar until 
standing eye to ear with the listener and ready to prey on their weaknesses. Once at its full height the song cages the senses with snappy firm rhythms and a deep throaty bass provocation whilst Ross teases with sharp and fiery melodic twists of sonic enterprise. Now in command it settles into an eager but restrained temptation of flaming guitar, moody bass taunting, and rhythmic caging from the drums, whilst all the while the excellent and expressive tones of Smith drive the lyrical heart and shadows of the song into thoughts and psyche with lethal effect. The track is a primal instigator bringing personal dark corners into play with its own evocative shadows yet at the same time is a deeply satisfying epidemic of infectious invention.
It is an impressive start soon matched by the next up Ritual, its imaginative poise and diversity an unrelenting intrigue enflaming another wash of heated ardour. Initially a melodic and dare one say mellow, well in comparison to other moments on the EP, embrace wraps its fingers around an awakening adventure whilst vocals as welcoming and warm as the sounds seduces from within the elegant coaxing. To ensure the sinister air is still there prying and lurking bass and drums rile up the atmosphere with intensive barracking, their voices opening the gate for another explosive stretch of savagery. Expectations assume this is a fury to stay but the schizophrenic will of the song returns to its earlier charm before again twisting it all up into a maelstrom of unpredictable excellence. As they are already renowned for, Age Of Menace craft the songs on the EP with skilled and expressive musicianship bringing the full essence and depths of their songs forward as a vibrant fire but again it is fair to say the release has evolved that texture too.
Creatures Of Habit and Start It Finish It, complete the release taking it to even greater thrilling levels. The first of the two flirts with the ear at its start, drums and bass dancing on its surface whilst the guitar taunts from behind their touch before it is all pulled into an intensive adrenaline fuelled adversarial goading, riffs and sinews searing with venomous energy and vocals sharing coarse whispers and blazing passion across the riveting stimulation. The song is a ferocious triumph which again is unafraid to catch the listener by surprise and shuffle its ingenuity into exhaustingly pleasing ways. It leaves a tall order for its successor to contend with but Start It Finish It does so with ease and aggressive excellence, the more rock toned riot a vehicle of unbridled galvanic energy and passion brewed into a brawling treat. If there is any niggle about the EP it is that it ends here once the song has finished ravaging and accelerated the now raging lustful hunger inside for much more.
All Seeing Lie EP is outstanding and vigorously thrusts Age Of Menace into the major leagues of metal/rock crafting bands. They will be making impacting noises around the world from this point on one suspects and hopes; whether the world is ready for their fury time will tell.
The album is released June 14th find out more at www.ageofmenace.com
9/10
RingMaster 13/06/2013
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