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Album Review: Mephitic // AHTME

July 2, 2020 — Leave a comment

AHTME are back with a brand new album, Mephitic. It follows on from their debut album, Sewer Born which was released in 2018. Their brutal crushing drums and pummeling guitars is an acquired taste but they’ve built up a strong following.  The band consists of Brent Turnbow (vocals), Craig Bruenger (bass), Dalton Harper (guitar) and Jordan Plumer (drums).

Death metal is a genre that focuses on extreme brutality. On Mephitic, AHTME have focused on neck snapping groove focused guitar riffs. It rushes straight out the blocks with the opening one-two of ‘Swarm of Fools and ‘Putrid Perforation.’ Both tracks are very fast, but have a gripping melody that keeps you hooked. Harper’s guitar playing is tighter and slicker.

‘Hair Of the Hog’ is reminiscent of old school death metal. The musicianship is tight, leading to a delicious colossal experience. There are some back metal elements, especially in the guitar parts, which show variation. ‘Valley of the Gourds’ is one of those songs where you will break your neck headbanging. The relentless groove and thrashy riffs are memorable because they’re very energetic.

Overall, Mephitic shows AHTME are able to stand out from the crowd. They’ve created infectious riffs and expanded their sound palette. This album should take them onto bigger things because it can appeal to any metalhead.

Mephitic released on July 26th on Unique Leader.

Words by Ermis Madikopoulos

Track Review: Under // Bethany Ferrie

June 29, 2020 — Leave a comment

Bethany Ferrie is influenced by the likes of Lewis Capaldi and Ed Sheeran. I already knew her from her last single ‘Stayed’, which had a big sound. Its chorus could easily be sung in arenas. She wrote new material in lockdown, and is back with a new song, ‘Under’. The song will be released on July 10th.

‘Under’ is about a relationship breaking down and the heartbreak that follows it. The sad guitars work well with Ferrie’s tender vocals because they pull you into her situation. This allows the listener to feel the emotions with Ferrie, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

I really enjoyed listening to ‘Under’ because it is a beautiful song. The lyrics resonate with anyone who is in a difficult period of trust, while Ferie’s emotional delivery will reach more people.

Words by Ermis Madikopoulos

Album Review: Colourwave // Belau

May 19, 2020 — Leave a comment

Belau are making waves. Having been featured both on MTV and KEXP,  the electronic duo from Budapest are back with a new album, ‘Colourwave.’ It’s a beautiful listen, with plenty of ambient textures.

I think what makes this album shine is the colourful production. There’s African-influenced sounds on ‘Risk It All’ which make me think of a walk in a sunny area. The handclaps also work very well because they could demonstrate unity and togetherness.

It is clear that Zero 7 influence Belau’s sound. Sophie Barker lends her voice on ‘Essence’. It has a beautiful guitar line running through the song, while Sophie’s voice is phenomenal on this track. The chilling vocal production works because the reverb and echo represent the protagonist being trapped.

The drum production is phenomenal because they make the tracks sound big. On ‘Breath’ it makes the song sound huge, with the bells and xylophone. There is also a huge array of vocal talent, with Sophie Lindinger’s vocals making the song shine brightly.  ‘Natural Pool’ is an instrumental song with samples of flowing water. This fits in with the ambience, while I love the chopped up samples because they make me feel relaxed.

Overall, ‘Colourwave’ is a calming listen and perfect for anyone who has had a stressful day. The production is immaculate because it draws from a variety of influences, and the vocal talent is exceptional.

Words by Ermis Madikopoulos