Playing a brutal style of metal Sharp End First open their debut album with the ferocious 'Super Thriller' setting you up for the rest of this intriguing album of quality modern metal that plays the metal with anvil style hardness laced with superb melodies that raise it above the debris of the average to the dizzy heights of the granite buttress that stands out above the rest, think of the Grammy winning quality of 'As I Lay Dying' and 'Sharp End First' have hoisted themselves up to that level with their Debut album of 'Rule The Day'
Lyrically the band use clever sound bites that time with the metal melodies to produce a sound round with unbelievable curves that make the angular change of directions feel like the G spot.
The second track 'Nameless' typifies this with Flit ripping out his vocals to a backdrop
of guitar squirts and furious pedal while the guitar melodies and background harmonies give this ferocity a gentle soundscape to flow over, this is already worth its money I'm thinking when we come to the freshly reproduced 'Blinded By Belief' first hear on the bands debut EP release of last year I'm not sure what they have done to this track but it's contrasts of brutal vocals, thunderous smithy style skins and coughing guitars against the smooth interplay of choruses and melodies match anything I have heard for a very long time in this genre. I'm now keeping my fingers crossed that after three tracks of outstanding heaviness it continues!..
Track four 'Wishbones' crank up the pressure with a rabid speed opening before descending into doom laden crunch before swooping into angelic melodies and then full circle to their rabid cranked metal... already I want to replay the first four tracks to experience it all again but I know that I must be patience as there is another seven tracks to go and I have decided that this is going in the car so I can get a guaranteed dose morning and night.
Song five 'Dividing Infinity' brings more of the same but with the added bonus of some
sing-along choruses, must join in roars and some severe head banging rhythms, one thing I haven’t mentioned is that there is steady emotion of belief running like a big fat vein through the vocals while the band play it so tight they are almost frightening. I can't keep heaping accolades onto the band because lets face it music is subjective but this album is a must have in my opinion and I am going to fight like **** to get out and see this lot before they hit it big in the states and disappear for large chunks of time.
What I can tell you that the rest of the album is equally good with the final track been
a ten minute exploration of contrasts with brutality, caressing melodies, speed and pattering strolls mixed into a soundscape worthy of any finale!
Myspace page Video of Blinded By Belief