Regretfully, the first track sent to me by Somerset metalcore outfit Austin Road expired before I had a chance to listen, but thankfully the band has given me a second chance and sent in their new track A Cloud With No Silver Lines.
A swirling guitar lick eases to the surface before an abrasive as fuck vocal intro sets the wheels of metal in motion before a nice down tuned guitar section sets the pace before the vocals resume hostilities with ferocious intent. I may be wrong here, but so far Austin Road have sprung an entirely new version of metalcore on me.
Whereas most bands of the genre have one harsh and one clean voice to draw from, it seems Austin Road have one set of harsh vocals and another set of harsher vocals from which to launch their sonic assault, and I’m loving it!
There’s a menaced and underlying sense of contempt running through this track, and the fact it doesn’t get all whiny and emotional in the chorus bits is a definite plus.
Breakdowns of sorts ensue, and the swirling guitars add another menacing dimension, but it’s the vocals that have won me over. The music is fucken awesome, don’t get me wrong, but harsh/harsh vocals?
Fuck yes.
As the song fades into nothingness I find myself actually wanting for more, which, for a band on first listen, can only be a good thing.
