Jaws across the world will drop on hearing Northlane’s unexpected fourth studio album, “Mesmer“. Out of nowhere, the Sydney metalcore/djent outfit dropped a new release that gives the genre a new lease of life with colour-packed guitar licks and soaring vocals.
Take song ‘Colourwave’, which explore elements of the orient as frontman Marcus Bridge slips and slides across an impressive register in a manner that can be described as nothing less than mesmerising. The orient licks slip and slide with electronic additions that all compliment those soaring vocals.
‘Savage’ is indeed just that, bringing metal to its most raw form, though it remains just as colourful as the previous track without losing the best of the nitty gritty to be experienced within the genre. It can’t be understated just how sensational this voice is. Giving a voice to the image of a soaring bird, Bridge doesn’t fail to impress with his versatility as a frontman.
Mesmer is as surprising a listen as it was a surprise release, nothing short of a modern metalcore masterpiece that brings a new face to a mask that could only be worn by a band such as Northlane.
Released through UNFD/24 Hundred the album is likely to build big things ahead…. After winning the ARIA Music Awards of 2015 for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album, 2017 may be a repeat, that’s how good it is.
4/5 stars
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