Cambion - Virus
We’ve featured Cambion before, and let’s just say that when we did, we were damned impressed! As such, when we were put onto their latest offering, a concept EP called Virus, I was pretty damned exciting to hear what the chaps had been up to. Known for their awesome power, incredible guitar work and hooks which will keep you listening from start to finish, this EP promises to be another notch in the bed post for a band who are already gaining recognition around the UK. Seeing as we were sent a copy, I settled down, hit play, cranked the volume up and prepared myself for what I was about to hear!
As the EP kicks into being with Outbreak the ominous EP begins, using news snippets about diseases and a bass heavy synth sound to build up a sense of danger, a sense that whatever follows is going to be mighty hard hitting. Suddenly pulling back from the edge to a simple guitar line underpinned by a hammering rhythm section, we’re lured into a gentle piece before the full force of the track hits, hammering into an almighty, bass heavy melee of different elements, powerful guitar lines and rolling drums. Continuing to push the boundaries of what you’re expecting to hear, there’s nothing simple here, it’s all complex time signatures, accomplished musicianship and a real sense that this EP is signalling a new beginning for the guys. Demonstrating the concept EP approach throughout through their refusal to settle for simple or straight forward, this track may well open the EP, but it hits harder than that, opening up a door to a whole new place, a place where Cambion are due to reign supreme over all they survey – and it’s damned good to hear!
Moving on to Infection there’s a seamless transition from one track to the next, using the fading guitar line almost as a lead in before once again, hammering into a track which showcases the abilities within the band. Personally, I love the syncopated approach that the guys have gone for in the tracks here as it keeps things interesting, keeps you guessing as to what’s coming next and how they’re going to keep the flow moving. Once again differentiating their style throughout the track the EP becomes something more once again, almost like a musical story which you follow, each track providing the next chapter and keeping you listening throughout. Chucking in another soaring guitar solo once again just to keep us guitarists jealous, we’re soon led on to Death to continue things. Opting for a far heavier approach this time around, the roaring vocals become the focal point for the track and we’re thrown into a mix that you know is going to get pits moving across the venue when this is performed live. Intricate guitar work combines with rolling drums and roaring vocals throughout this track to form a sound which verges on groove metal, death metal and all out distorted insanity, yet throughout the chaps manage to keep a sense of melody running through things, a sense that it all makes sense, and a sense that this is just another demonstration of what it is they’re capable of.
Afterlife comes up next, opening with a sludgy approach before once again launching us headfirst into a pit of all out devastation. Once again opting to combine all of the intricate elements with a backing synth, there’s a real sense of industrial style metal flowing through things here, offering up an almost Fear Factory style sound at times. Powerful, fast paced and yet insanely melodic when the moment fits, this track is without a doubt a serious high point on the EP, and a moment I would highly recommend you check out if you get a chance. It’s only then left for Ressurection to close things, finishing with a track which seems to sum up the whole EP, and another one to make sure you check out. Once again offering up intricate time signatures as well as a serious dose of all out metal, the closing moments here are once again seriously heavy, yet once again manage to keep that sense of melody flowing through things. It’s a fitting end to a solid EP, and the final moments of a record which I have a feeling is going to be incredibly popular once it’s out there, definitely a band primed to take on the world.
Cambion are one of those bands that came onto our radar pretty early on in the life of Loud-Stuff and have always remained there as one to check out. This EP is a whole new level, a whole new band sound in many ways, and another step forward for them. As a concept EP this does what it should, keeps you listening throughout and offers up taste after taste of what they’re capable of, but it’s more than that. Go into this to hear what a band are capable of when they put their minds to it – you won’t be disappointed!
To find out more about Cambion, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
As the EP kicks into being with Outbreak the ominous EP begins, using news snippets about diseases and a bass heavy synth sound to build up a sense of danger, a sense that whatever follows is going to be mighty hard hitting. Suddenly pulling back from the edge to a simple guitar line underpinned by a hammering rhythm section, we’re lured into a gentle piece before the full force of the track hits, hammering into an almighty, bass heavy melee of different elements, powerful guitar lines and rolling drums. Continuing to push the boundaries of what you’re expecting to hear, there’s nothing simple here, it’s all complex time signatures, accomplished musicianship and a real sense that this EP is signalling a new beginning for the guys. Demonstrating the concept EP approach throughout through their refusal to settle for simple or straight forward, this track may well open the EP, but it hits harder than that, opening up a door to a whole new place, a place where Cambion are due to reign supreme over all they survey – and it’s damned good to hear!
Moving on to Infection there’s a seamless transition from one track to the next, using the fading guitar line almost as a lead in before once again, hammering into a track which showcases the abilities within the band. Personally, I love the syncopated approach that the guys have gone for in the tracks here as it keeps things interesting, keeps you guessing as to what’s coming next and how they’re going to keep the flow moving. Once again differentiating their style throughout the track the EP becomes something more once again, almost like a musical story which you follow, each track providing the next chapter and keeping you listening throughout. Chucking in another soaring guitar solo once again just to keep us guitarists jealous, we’re soon led on to Death to continue things. Opting for a far heavier approach this time around, the roaring vocals become the focal point for the track and we’re thrown into a mix that you know is going to get pits moving across the venue when this is performed live. Intricate guitar work combines with rolling drums and roaring vocals throughout this track to form a sound which verges on groove metal, death metal and all out distorted insanity, yet throughout the chaps manage to keep a sense of melody running through things, a sense that it all makes sense, and a sense that this is just another demonstration of what it is they’re capable of.
Afterlife comes up next, opening with a sludgy approach before once again launching us headfirst into a pit of all out devastation. Once again opting to combine all of the intricate elements with a backing synth, there’s a real sense of industrial style metal flowing through things here, offering up an almost Fear Factory style sound at times. Powerful, fast paced and yet insanely melodic when the moment fits, this track is without a doubt a serious high point on the EP, and a moment I would highly recommend you check out if you get a chance. It’s only then left for Ressurection to close things, finishing with a track which seems to sum up the whole EP, and another one to make sure you check out. Once again offering up intricate time signatures as well as a serious dose of all out metal, the closing moments here are once again seriously heavy, yet once again manage to keep that sense of melody flowing through things. It’s a fitting end to a solid EP, and the final moments of a record which I have a feeling is going to be incredibly popular once it’s out there, definitely a band primed to take on the world.
Cambion are one of those bands that came onto our radar pretty early on in the life of Loud-Stuff and have always remained there as one to check out. This EP is a whole new level, a whole new band sound in many ways, and another step forward for them. As a concept EP this does what it should, keeps you listening throughout and offers up taste after taste of what they’re capable of, but it’s more than that. Go into this to hear what a band are capable of when they put their minds to it – you won’t be disappointed!
To find out more about Cambion, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Cambion New Tracks
Following on from checking out Jester and Salem from Cambion’s upcoming EP, we were sent through the other two tracks to be featured on it so we could make this review a bit more comprehensive! Read on to find out why you need to get your grubby little mits on this EP as soon as you can!
Death March fades in to some of the heaviest drums I’ve heard in a long while underpinning one hell of an awesome riff, these guys are on fire from the outset! Kicking in with some raw vocals, this track powers on from the outset grabbing you by your ears and forcing you to listen to what they’ve got to say. Brutal and unrelenting turns into melodic midway through as the track is broken down to a lead line over slowed down drums, it’s almost a relief from the heaviness before it and makes you sit back and listen straight away. Soon enough though, everything breaks down again and we kick back into gear, there’s so much going on in this track it’s impossible to give a complete breakdown of it all in writing – rest assured you need to hear this track to believe it!
Quantom Concept is another in your face track, heavy from the outset and pounding ever onwards as it progresses – this track demonstrates why these guys are so popular on the live scene. Not content with producing some of the heaviest music I’ve heard in ages, odd time signatures are added into the mix along with little lead lines, all of which combine to create a sound which is impossible to pigeon hole into a particular genre. Again adding a melodic section into the mix the track twists and turns throughout making you question what is going to come next, but never disappointing.
Final track Virus opens with an assault on your ear drums, pounding drums and distorted guitars carry the track forward in an almost Fear Factory style before kicking in with some roaring vocals. This track is one hell of a way to finish an EP, opening full on in your face and continuing to rip out every nerve of your soul before delivering a final kick in the teeth – this is seriously well produced and played heaviness here and it is good! Even the break down in the middle part of the track is heavy yet melodic, the recipe these guys are putting together is one which they have to stick to purely because it’s so awesome.
Cambion hold a special place for me as they were one of the first bands I ever reviewed on the site. Hearing these new tracks has shown me one thing in particular, and that’s how a band can develop over time. Some of their earlier stuff is raw and rough, but their new tracks show a band who have grown up, moved forward and developed their skills, the end result being their new EP. Everyone should check out their old tracks then hear these new ones, they’re quite simply awesome. If this is their EP, what’s their album going to be like?!
To find out more about Cambion, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Death March fades in to some of the heaviest drums I’ve heard in a long while underpinning one hell of an awesome riff, these guys are on fire from the outset! Kicking in with some raw vocals, this track powers on from the outset grabbing you by your ears and forcing you to listen to what they’ve got to say. Brutal and unrelenting turns into melodic midway through as the track is broken down to a lead line over slowed down drums, it’s almost a relief from the heaviness before it and makes you sit back and listen straight away. Soon enough though, everything breaks down again and we kick back into gear, there’s so much going on in this track it’s impossible to give a complete breakdown of it all in writing – rest assured you need to hear this track to believe it!
Quantom Concept is another in your face track, heavy from the outset and pounding ever onwards as it progresses – this track demonstrates why these guys are so popular on the live scene. Not content with producing some of the heaviest music I’ve heard in ages, odd time signatures are added into the mix along with little lead lines, all of which combine to create a sound which is impossible to pigeon hole into a particular genre. Again adding a melodic section into the mix the track twists and turns throughout making you question what is going to come next, but never disappointing.
Final track Virus opens with an assault on your ear drums, pounding drums and distorted guitars carry the track forward in an almost Fear Factory style before kicking in with some roaring vocals. This track is one hell of a way to finish an EP, opening full on in your face and continuing to rip out every nerve of your soul before delivering a final kick in the teeth – this is seriously well produced and played heaviness here and it is good! Even the break down in the middle part of the track is heavy yet melodic, the recipe these guys are putting together is one which they have to stick to purely because it’s so awesome.
Cambion hold a special place for me as they were one of the first bands I ever reviewed on the site. Hearing these new tracks has shown me one thing in particular, and that’s how a band can develop over time. Some of their earlier stuff is raw and rough, but their new tracks show a band who have grown up, moved forward and developed their skills, the end result being their new EP. Everyone should check out their old tracks then hear these new ones, they’re quite simply awesome. If this is their EP, what’s their album going to be like?!
To find out more about Cambion, check out their Facebook page HERE.