A Silent Escape
Garry from SaN PR recently sent through details of A Silent Escape and their self-titled debut album, due for release on the 4th of June. Drawing influence from the likes of Comeback Kid and In Flames as well as the song writing of Millencolin, this Swedish four piece have set their sights on UK domination, so I thought it best we check out what to expect!
Opening with Blackhole Gravity you’re immediately pulled into this album, the guitar line grabbing your attention before the unexpectedly calm vocals come into take the lead, alternating between singing and roaring to create contrasts within the track. Catchy and jumpy from the off, this is the sort of track which you dream of seeing on the live circuit, the vocals penetrating into your soul as the guitar, bass and drums all form a distorted melee of melody and aggression. Final Chapter continues this idea of melodic aggression, once again launching you head first into a pit of soft and harmonic vocals combined with angry guitars and rolling drum beats. It’s striking how well put together this sound is, it’s akin to albums from much bigger bands and packs the same force as it progresses, two tracks in and everything’s looking damned good.
Losing Grip picks up the lead next, launching into a funky guitar riff before pulling back to once again contrast those awesome vocals, the drums adopting a simple yet effective beat to carry everything forwards. This track strikes me as an anthem in the waiting, and potentially the track which will get the band some serious recognition once it’s out there. From the soaring guitar melodies through to the powerful gang vocals, this track has everything you could possibly want from a track, even up to a guitar solo of pretty damned epic proportions. It’s no shock then when From Words To Beating comes in to take over the lead and once again, throws more of those distorted riffs out at you. Throughout the tracks I’ve been trying to work out what the vocals sound like, and it dawned on me with this track that they’re like combination of Scooter from Cold and M Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold, they’ve got that powerful smooth approach which really hammers them home. After that comparison though, God’s A Liar (Ft Richard Sjunnesson) comes as somewhat of a shock, launching straight into a hammering melee of roaring and stunning guitar work. Throwing in that contrasted vocal line once again, this is a track which really stands alone on the album, standing out as one which demonstrates the bands ability to produce carefully crafted music to their exact specifications.
Further evidence of the ability of this band comes up next in the form of Ticket Back, once again opening with a hammering riff to accompany a soaring lead line before throwing down into a pumping riff. The track is one which is going to absolutely slay on the live scene, holding all of the power which you would expect from them and once again getting you involved no matter where you are. Can’t Be The End suddenly comes as a shock, opening with electronically enhanced guitar effects before more of those pumping riffs, this time adopting an approach which wouldn’t be out of place on mainstream radio. Catchy, powerful and most of all melodic, this track almost goes to demonstrate the bands ability to craft a track which will appeal to a mass audience rather than a select subculture, and as such this is another highpoint on the album which really stands out as one to hear. All thoughts of radio play and mainstream acceptance are thrown out the window with the introduction of Bullets though, launching straight into a distorted melee of roaring and hammering guitar lines, once again returning us to the heavier side of the music but still keeping the listener firmly involved through the catchy chanted chorus.
Smalltown Outcast presents yet another change in the album, opening sounding almost like euphoric dance style music before launching into an In Flames style mixture of riffs and hammering drums, the mix suggesting that this is going to be another all-out heavy track, but the sense of melody keeping the music firmly grounded once again. Adding in a piano line to the chorus, this is another example of a band who know what they want to sound like and aren’t afraid to go for it with their music. Combining hard and soft is something which doesn’t always work, yet these guys have not only achieved it, they’ve written a new book about how to do it! As if to further confirm this, My Habit comes up next and once again treats us to a melody filled track, full of pumping palm muted guitar riffs, intricate lead lines and those soaring vocals. Matching the vocals with the bass, this is a seriously catchy track, the sort of one which you’ll find yourself humming for days and days afterwards, but most of all a track which is quite simply awesome. If I had to pick a favourite from the album, it would be this one – it’s just got all of the ingredients you could want from the band and works insanely well as a whole.
Mrs Reaper comes up as the penultimate track on the album, once again launching us into a mixture of melodic synth combined with hammering guitars, creating a sense of darkness and raw power. The vocals once again steal the show and we’re left with a track which once again, gets you out of your seat and involved with the band whether you’re expecting to or not. All too soon though we’re approaching the end of the journey with Goodbye Mr Pig, a dark and emotional track fuelled by guitars combined with piano and synth initially, the mood enveloping you as the track begins. As if they had saved the best for last, this is another track which demonstrates both their heavy and melodic side, crafting one final moment of sheer powerful melody to close the album and leaving you with no doubt that this band is going to be a serious force to be reckoned with in the metal scene.
A Silent Escape have crafted an album far beyond what I expected from them, it’s quite frankly a triumph from start to finish. Normally on an album you can expect there to be one or two dud tracks, but on this album, each and every single one serves its purpose to continue the theme, demonstrating the bands ability and keeping you listening right up until the final seconds. If they can pull this off live, this is going to be a band we’re all going to become acquainted to very, very soon.
To find out more about A Silent Escape, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Blackhole Gravity you’re immediately pulled into this album, the guitar line grabbing your attention before the unexpectedly calm vocals come into take the lead, alternating between singing and roaring to create contrasts within the track. Catchy and jumpy from the off, this is the sort of track which you dream of seeing on the live circuit, the vocals penetrating into your soul as the guitar, bass and drums all form a distorted melee of melody and aggression. Final Chapter continues this idea of melodic aggression, once again launching you head first into a pit of soft and harmonic vocals combined with angry guitars and rolling drum beats. It’s striking how well put together this sound is, it’s akin to albums from much bigger bands and packs the same force as it progresses, two tracks in and everything’s looking damned good.
Losing Grip picks up the lead next, launching into a funky guitar riff before pulling back to once again contrast those awesome vocals, the drums adopting a simple yet effective beat to carry everything forwards. This track strikes me as an anthem in the waiting, and potentially the track which will get the band some serious recognition once it’s out there. From the soaring guitar melodies through to the powerful gang vocals, this track has everything you could possibly want from a track, even up to a guitar solo of pretty damned epic proportions. It’s no shock then when From Words To Beating comes in to take over the lead and once again, throws more of those distorted riffs out at you. Throughout the tracks I’ve been trying to work out what the vocals sound like, and it dawned on me with this track that they’re like combination of Scooter from Cold and M Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold, they’ve got that powerful smooth approach which really hammers them home. After that comparison though, God’s A Liar (Ft Richard Sjunnesson) comes as somewhat of a shock, launching straight into a hammering melee of roaring and stunning guitar work. Throwing in that contrasted vocal line once again, this is a track which really stands alone on the album, standing out as one which demonstrates the bands ability to produce carefully crafted music to their exact specifications.
Further evidence of the ability of this band comes up next in the form of Ticket Back, once again opening with a hammering riff to accompany a soaring lead line before throwing down into a pumping riff. The track is one which is going to absolutely slay on the live scene, holding all of the power which you would expect from them and once again getting you involved no matter where you are. Can’t Be The End suddenly comes as a shock, opening with electronically enhanced guitar effects before more of those pumping riffs, this time adopting an approach which wouldn’t be out of place on mainstream radio. Catchy, powerful and most of all melodic, this track almost goes to demonstrate the bands ability to craft a track which will appeal to a mass audience rather than a select subculture, and as such this is another highpoint on the album which really stands out as one to hear. All thoughts of radio play and mainstream acceptance are thrown out the window with the introduction of Bullets though, launching straight into a distorted melee of roaring and hammering guitar lines, once again returning us to the heavier side of the music but still keeping the listener firmly involved through the catchy chanted chorus.
Smalltown Outcast presents yet another change in the album, opening sounding almost like euphoric dance style music before launching into an In Flames style mixture of riffs and hammering drums, the mix suggesting that this is going to be another all-out heavy track, but the sense of melody keeping the music firmly grounded once again. Adding in a piano line to the chorus, this is another example of a band who know what they want to sound like and aren’t afraid to go for it with their music. Combining hard and soft is something which doesn’t always work, yet these guys have not only achieved it, they’ve written a new book about how to do it! As if to further confirm this, My Habit comes up next and once again treats us to a melody filled track, full of pumping palm muted guitar riffs, intricate lead lines and those soaring vocals. Matching the vocals with the bass, this is a seriously catchy track, the sort of one which you’ll find yourself humming for days and days afterwards, but most of all a track which is quite simply awesome. If I had to pick a favourite from the album, it would be this one – it’s just got all of the ingredients you could want from the band and works insanely well as a whole.
Mrs Reaper comes up as the penultimate track on the album, once again launching us into a mixture of melodic synth combined with hammering guitars, creating a sense of darkness and raw power. The vocals once again steal the show and we’re left with a track which once again, gets you out of your seat and involved with the band whether you’re expecting to or not. All too soon though we’re approaching the end of the journey with Goodbye Mr Pig, a dark and emotional track fuelled by guitars combined with piano and synth initially, the mood enveloping you as the track begins. As if they had saved the best for last, this is another track which demonstrates both their heavy and melodic side, crafting one final moment of sheer powerful melody to close the album and leaving you with no doubt that this band is going to be a serious force to be reckoned with in the metal scene.
A Silent Escape have crafted an album far beyond what I expected from them, it’s quite frankly a triumph from start to finish. Normally on an album you can expect there to be one or two dud tracks, but on this album, each and every single one serves its purpose to continue the theme, demonstrating the bands ability and keeping you listening right up until the final seconds. If they can pull this off live, this is going to be a band we’re all going to become acquainted to very, very soon.
To find out more about A Silent Escape, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls