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PLANET FATALE: The Cycle Repeats

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September 17

Words by Matt Gabites

I think it may have been Princess Diana that said, “Debut albums are like a hymen, you only get one go at them”.

Ok, so maybe she didn’t say that, but the sentiment still stands. Because for every Appetite For Destruction there a million….um…? And that’s the point, most first time efforts are forgettable. But give The Cycle Repeats a spin, and I very much doubt you’ll be forgetting the name Planet Fatale any time soon.

Because this British hard rock band with self-proclaimed influences ranging from blues and stoner rock to alternative metal have put together an album of such assured maturity and quality that it defies their rookie status.

Introducing themselves with The Cycle Repeats and the kinda riff that instigates involuntary head nodding. Bluesy hard rock for sure but then midway through, the drummer’s double kick drives a brilliantly stupendous lead break forward and already all bets are off on this being a generic walk through previously well trodden musical pathways.

86 offers a glimpse into the Black Sabbath rebranded Heaven and Hell’s faster moments, with front woman Hels proving she is more than worthy of such Dio comparisons.

And it is her spectacular voice that announces Break For You, a more blues based track that benefits greatly from the lead breaks colouring in the gaps around the main riff. A powerful chorus echoes the opening moments before slowing things down further and then unleashing yet more lead guitar pyrotechnics.


It is normally at this point that a lull in quality can be expected from a band’s debut, but not Planet Fatale as they revisit a song released two years earlier, Shotgun Riders. The bass heavy opening offers the album’s strongest nod to stoner rock before heading off in an altogether heavier direction.

That heaviness is maintained on Violation as rolling drums and whispered vocals invoke an atmosphere accentuated by oncoming crushing chords. It really is an impressive six minutes of harder edged rock being played by a band that clearly has something to prove.

Fight Club is the next sonic blast on offer and wastes no time in upping the ante. And let’s face it, any song that screams “Hey motherfucker where ya gonna go with your head full a shit and your nose full a blow’ oughta be
heavy. And it is.

Smash My Face invokes the mood of Down classic Stone The Crow on its journey toward a brutal chorus. Then a return to the blues gives us the first few minutes of Working Girl before delivering an altogether heavier ending.

From here, Planet Fatale drives home the message they’ve been spreading with the previous eight songs. Bleed channels a Geezer Butler worthy intro before dragging it into the 21st century by way of a vocally fierce chorus and yet more crushing drums.

2mm saves the heaviest for last and somehow, unfeasibly keeps the ‘all killer, no filler’ quality coming.

Speaking of quality, the sound of this album is exemplary. Produced by none other than Russ Russell, who has previously twiddled the knobs for Napalm Death and The Wildhearts.

So I may be able to misquote the People’s Princess, but I’m no Nostradamus. Yet, I predict big things for Planet Fatale. I can also predict that after just one listen, the very next thing you will do is play it again.

And the best part about getting in on the ground floor of a new band is the anticipation of what is to come.

Planet Fatale, don’t you forget it.

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