Despyre – Rise Up

By RingMaster Review on July 2, 2019 • ( 0 )

The sound of Long Island, NY metallers Despyre is another which seems openly bred in familiar strains and flavours of sound but emerges as something boldly individual to its creators; all the proof within the band’s striking new album, Rise Up. Each of its tracks makes like a mix of old friend and adventurous new protagonist and all provide one fiercely enjoyable encounter arousing the senses and spirit alike.

The classic and the fresh collude across Rise Up for a multi-flavoured proposal which demands attention. There is a punch to the release which often left us breathless but equally a comforting reassurance in a world of madness from those recognisable inspirations to its character. Produced by Life of Agony’s Joey Zampella, the album assaults and incites, harasses and inflames body and senses from start to finish leaving plenty for the imagination to play with too.

Rise Up immediately hit the spot with opener Liberate, the song emerging from chaos through the melodic threads of guitarists Dennis Gaudio and Brad Maestro, voracious riffs swiftly following as rhythms descend with ruthless intent. Rob Malvagnos’ potent tones add to the immediately compelling incitement, his attack and texturing as rousing as the tempestuous and skilfully conjured sounds around him. Thrash and extreme metal hues collude with classic/melodic metal enterprise as the song ignites ears and an album which from start to finish only compounds its impressive incitement.

Only slightly less insatiable, Regret follows casting a melodically wired tempting with irritability in its lining. The alluring vocals of Malvagnos are potently backed by the rawer throated roars of Maestro as they add to the stirring heart of the song before DRU eclipses it with its dirt encrusted rock ‘n’ roll. The swinging rhythms of drummer Dave Riggins set the tone, the attitude sparked by the brooding throatiness of Kevin Cassidy’s bass as well as the group calls inclinations as imaginatively adopted by the rest of the band in their exploits.

Our favourite track is next up, Evil Inside an irresistible sing-a long moment sprung from seductive enterprise and heart bred drama. It was impossible not to be wrapped up in the writhing melodic threads of guitar or the earnest feel of the vocals and enslaved to the rich roar of an intimate chorus which just demanded participation.

Even though Complicated could not quite live up to its predecessor, the track had the body bouncing with the dark groan of the bass inflaming personal appetite while Twisted equally had the imagination hooked with its sinister keys cast opening before the suggested almost demonic darkness consumes the subsequent ravening sound and the discontent fuelling it. Both tracks simply added to the raw pleasure of Rise Up with the second especially manipulative with its thrash nurtured essences before Hell Freezes Over shares even deeper corners of darkness within its apocalyptic fringed tempest with just as rousing enterprise from all sides of the quintet.

A riveting version of the classic Life Of Agony track, Underground, follows; Despyre rather than re-inventing it casting their own predacious metallic imagination over its indisputable glory to create another mighty moment within the release.

The album closes up with Blue Sky (Reborn), a stripped down version of a track from the band’s debut EP. With radiant female vocals to the side of Malvagnos captivating tones within the acoustic laced embrace of guitars, the song brings the release to a truly magnetic conclusion.

Rise Up is not exactly unique yet stands as individual to Despyre as you could wish leaving us only with a hunger for much more from a band surely set to face far greater attention.

Rise Up is out now via Pavement Entertainment; available across most stores and through https://www.pavementmusic.com/product/despyre-rise-up/