Increasingly compelling, False Awakening is the new EP from British metallers Deference. A maelstrom of ravenous textures and flavours caught in an equally imposing web of emotion, the release not only forcibly pleases ears but also suggests this is a band with the potential to be a big part of the UK metal scene.
Coming from Southampton, Deference weave in inspirations from the likes of Architects, Northlane, Periphery, and Oh Sleeper into their tapestry of melody rich metalcore with djent and progressive metal tendencies. The quintet has been climbing the ladder with a rapid ascent in recent times, the release of 2015 debut EP XXXVII and live successes alongside bands such as Rolo Tomassi, Napoleon, The Hell, and Shields as well as a European Tour with True Lie all increasing their reputation. False Awakening is a creative echo of an outfit ready to break into national recognition, the next unavoidable step for a band beginning to make their potent mark.
The release opens with Scavengers. A steely shimmer initially coaxes ears, senses strapping riffs soon following as rhythms and guitars grumble around the plaintive vocal roar of Rob Lea. That djent styled essence is equally as swift infecting song and satisfaction, the guitars of Matt Dennison and Jonathan Prince creating a spiky attitude and touch in their emerging weave of enterprise. Strapped to the muscular grouch of Shaun Kirtland’s bass and the animosity loaded swings of drummer Mike Hill, the track is a formidable introduction to the EP; not necessarily unique but relentlessly exhilarating.
The might start slips away to be replaced by the instantly ravenous Insomnia; its immediate wall of sonic trespass the bed for melodic and technical dexterity to blossom. It is an intriguing mixture which takes longer to ignite the imagination than its predecessor’s tempest but grows into a rich captivation especially as raw and aggression vocal contemplations are joined by an impressive clean delivery from Lea, Dennison adding his potent vocal backing throughout. Persistently turbulent across its vociferous landscape, a tempestuous climate equally as open in the track’s mellower melancholy thick yet stark moments, the song has the imagination as gripped as ears throughout.
New single Departure follows, growing from another solemn but engaging melody equipped peace with keys colouring its atmospheric questioning before again vocal and sonic volatility takes hold and seize the moment. As another maze of sound and invention descends, Deference reinforce the potency of their presence and creative dexterity, the song shifting through numerous cycles all capturing the imagination if again with increasing persuasion rather than an immediate one though indeed its first listen or two leaves pleasure alive.
The EP’s title track has an almost carnal air and character as it ravages the senses straight away, an antipathy which rather than diminishes simply expands its scope as clean vocals and melodic endeavour gets involved in the volcanic explosion. The track is superb, unpredictable yet with plenty of familiar spices only adding to its impressive blaze of sound and emotive exploration. Rabid and composed, vicious and seductive, the track is a collision of extremes and imagination breeding a mighty storm again fusing varied metal bred hues in its cataclysmic squall.
The release closes with Become Death Part 2, an initially gentle melodic romancing of the senses around a vocal sample. As destructive elements fall upon the calm, the song is fallout of corroded beauty, an epochal epilogue to the EP’s themes looking at “a man-made apocalyptic world.”
The buzz is that Deference is ready to take their place to the fore of the UK metal scene; whether it is sooner or later it is expected success backed up by False Awakening and its striking contents.
The False Awakening EP is out now.
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Pete RingMaster 05/04/2017
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
The single is the first release from Abandcalledboy as a quartet and shows a shift in direction of sound from the foursome of Ryan Burrowes, Adam Smith, Mark Finnegan, and newest member Chris Ryan. George Best In Show is the first to step forward and in the matter of two breaths has ears and appetite enslaved with its almost voracious rhythmic shuffle. The swinging beats border on salacious and are irresistibly inviting as the surrounding tempting of guitar brings a B-52s like teasing to its melodic mischief. It is not the only thing worming away under the skin and into the psyche though, a sonic bluster erodes the senses with its caustic noise whilst a dark menacing bass tone simply adds to the addictive tempest. It sounds like it is a threatening start but it is the complete opposite, in fact it is a gloriously captivating stirring up of air and listener which levels out into a more stable though still agitated landscape once warm vocals join the affair. The song continues to impress and inescapably seduce, slowly raising its intensity and sonic causticity again towards a blistering finale. There seems to be hints of bands like XTC, Baddies, and Swound! in the song but spices in something predominantly unique.
The EP opens up with the band’s current single Get Out, Get Out! and swiftly has ears engaged in a blend of riffs and melodies. It is a raw introduction mellowing out with the clean vocals of Walsh who in turn reveals his prowess at offering raucous throat bred squalls and angst hued harmonies. His delivery is nothing less than impressive, something applying to all elements of the band to be fair. Bleeding addictive citric grooves and disorientating rhythms, the track continues to explore a widening expanse of rock music for a potent start to the EP, though the song is the ‘weakest’ on the EP for personal tastes with the major excitement and might of Kill The Silence coming in the following trio of tracks.
