2007-06-19
The UK's Rise To Addiction have been through quite a bumpy ride before they were able to release this, their first full length album. Starting out with two ex-
Blaze guitarists Steve Wray and John Slater, the rest of the group has changed, recruiting three ex-
Ninedenine members. I have to say, I can't really guess how the originally intended line-up would sound, but this one kicks ass.
Combining the considerable playing and writing skills of the two guitarists, who proved their worth with Blaze in the past, the band also has a tight rhythm section with plenty of groove and a strong vocalist who ties everything together well. The band's music, a combination of a hard rock base with some groove thrash and more traditional heavy metal, sounds heavy and aggressive, yet quite modern and catchy.
The sound, a usual grade A work by the ever dependable Andy Snip, brings out the best of the band's playing ability; the guitars are strong and meaty and the drums have plenty of bite, with an opener as heavy as "Cold Season" such a sound is one element that can make or break a song, and here it all fits in great. A great riff carries the track through, and vocalist Leigh Oates does just swims through the material, he's the kind of natural vocalist that is best for this kind of music, he has the same grit and strength that some classic American hard rock vocalists were known for.
One track that could have been a misstep is the progy "Fessonia", around 8 minute long and with some strong Pink Floyd touches, it comes off as very different from the rest of the band's material, and still, their talent, a strong vocal performance and some fine guitar work make this work.
All in all, a very solid release for this British band, I can't help but thinking that its too bad the UK metal scene is mostly into current American crap these days, when there's such strong local talent out there.
Alon Miasnikov
