Volucrine: The Lead Heavens

Having only two months ago reviewed the debut EP, The Clockwork Tyrant, from Finland's Volucrine, taking a step back to listen to their first full length album (although under the name V they did release an album titled The Year Of Relinquishment before the release of the EP) finds them moving forward, if rather slowly. Alt-Metal with hints of HIM was how I described the EP and there's little to suggest anything else on The Lead Heavens, however that's not to say that things are standing still for this outfit. Boasting three guitarists, Joona Lapilainen, Jarmo Hienonen and Antti Heikkila, there's no shortage of riffage, while the vocal attack from Jupe Velin still veers from throat shredding screams to melancholic cleans, while having him backed vocally by Lapilainen results in far more variation in that department than many others can muster. Obviously with their chosen path, uplifting shafts of light are few and far between in what is a full on onslaught of pouncing snare pops, intense six string abuse and juddering bass bellows. There are numerous sections where the gas is lifted off and yet even in those moments there's still an overriding feeling of oppression and gloom.

However that's not to suggest that there isn't a good amount to enjoy on The Lead Heavens, opening track "Gravehead" introducing the band's predilection to dart into sight on a strong riff and then back off as shards of melody becomes interspersed with a clever use of sound effects and the aforementioned vocal alterations - it also contains the excellent line 'What doesn't kill you, will hurt like hell'! "Down By The Fall" proves Volucrine can up the intensity through a more frantic attack, while "Pilgrimage" mixes things up a bit, a slow deliberate approach altering the focus. Throw in the melancholic almost Screamo of the title track and the dramatic smashes of "Aphonic Heights" and while Volucrine may be a million miles from breaking any particular moulds, they do offer a reasonable amount of variance within their chosen line of attack. There's still a feeling that Volucrine will need to step up their game if they're to really break through, however with The Lead Heavens they're certainly moving in the right direction.

Track Listing
1. Gravehead
2. Down by the Fall
3. Amok Run
4. Pilgrimage
5. The Lead Heavens
6. Of Rules and Restrictions
7. Curtains
8. At the Cycle's End
9. Aphonic Heights

Added: May 1st 2015
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Volucrine online
Hits: 1847
Language: english

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