Finland is rapidly establishing itself as a base for top notch metal bands, including personal favorites, Sonata Arctica. From the same country comes Ember Falls, with their metalcore/power metal combination and their angry lyrics and distinctive sound. They have tinges of Sabaton, with kilowatts of the same power.
The album Welcome To Ember Falls is their debut and follows the band’s single “Shut Down With Me”, which was released independently in August 2015. The band then signed worldwide to Spinefarm Records/Universal Music Group.
The band is made up of Thomas Grove on lead (clean) vocals, Jay V on lead guitar, Calu on guitar & death vocals, Ace on drums, OneOfHaze – Synth and Oswald on bass.
I had the misfortune recently of reviewing Amaranthe‘s latest release and, whilst Ember Falls could be compared to that outfit, they are superior in almost every way. The production is crystal clear and heavy, with every blast beat coming through loud and clear. The singing is cool and full of emotion and the guitars hack through the speakers like bayonets through training sacks of hay. The nice touches are also the death (or brutal) vocals of Calu, which add to the violent delivery of the collection.
The record runs through all issues of common concern, such as the environment (“The Cost Of Doing Business“) and the whole band seems on edge at modern life’s shortcomings. Their warpaint imagery adds to the feeling that these are one badass bunch of bandits, who really are railing at what they see as going on in this old world.
There is a sense of motion with this record, like the band are imitating a shark’s life when to stop is to die. They are relentless in their brutality and reach into their souls to produce songs of great beauty also. “Shut Down With Me” is a great pop rock song in amongst the maelstrom of majestic musical aggression.
Overall, the album shows the talents of another brilliant European metal outfit. I look forward to more releases and tours from this bunch of angry young men.
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