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[ALBUM REVIEW] DEFENCES: With Might And Main

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It’s not every day now that you get to hear that there is a new band breaking through in the Nu-Metal genre. Mind you though for the Nu-Metal purists out there British act Defences are also not pure Nu-Metal. If you are expecting a female-fronted Korn then look somewhere else because Defences are one of those bands that seem to draw something into their sound from a lot of different genres ranging from stadium rock right through to symphonic metal… and I have to say I like it.

As a debut album “With Might And Main” is an absolute stunner. From the opening piano-driven intro – Re-Emerge – that pushes the message “I’m not dreaming anymore” you can tell that not only are you onto something very special here with Defences but you’re also onto a band that is determined to make a statement with their first release.

The Takeoff and Two Steps Back quickly reveal Defences that know how to use the vocals of Cherry Duesbury and Calum Wilmot with a great mix of melody and brutality… something that some bands never seem to master. That vocal mix leads to a really raw and primal sound on Oh Stranger while the instrumental side of things leads to a manic and frantic sound on Gravity show that Defences really are a band that already have a great sense of maturity around them.

That same maturity is also shown through the fact that Defences try so many different sounds on the one album. There is a strong electronic feel mixed with the familiar Nu-Metal sound on Scared and that some electronic presence is there on Shanghai which begins as a slow ballad and then builds. There also seems to be a strong Scandinavian symphonic metal feel on Alleviate and Might And Main, the former also consisting of a brilliant guitar solo that shows that this is not just a band with strong vocals… it’s an all round sensation.

Defences may well be one of the breakthrough bands of 2017. With tracks like Grow already getting radio attention, and Beneath The Surface screaming out for a single release, this is a band that you feel is going to get a lot of attention very, very quickly. With Might And Main is an awesome album that is sure to gain Defences a lot of new listeners.

3.5/5 Stars

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp_SWVNzUUs]

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