Decode
Coming out of Sheffield, Decode are out to build their reputation and get their music heard by the masses. Crafting a sound of their own which combines hard rock and metal with melodic vocals and pop hooks, the band have released their 5 track album entitled Shaping Shadows, so we thought it only right we check out what these guys had on offer!
Opening with Shaping Shadows, the album gets off to an energetic start, full of bass, hammering guitar lines and rolling drums. The entire mix is brought together by melodic vocals which seem to soar over everything, creating a sound which is not only hard hitting but also melodic and powerful, this is seriously accomplished stuff here and it works damned well! Catchy and powerful yet bringing in enough of the mainstream ideologies to make this something which could receive airplay on mass radio stations, it’s striking from the off just how these guys have created such an awesome sound. Moving from section to section seamlessly, the sound here is of a far more accomplished band, somehow crafting a sound which you almost feel like you’ve heard before whilst still keeping a sense of the unique running through things.
Enemies continues the theme of the album and launches you head first into a pit of distortion straight off, before pulling back and throwing more melodic elements at you to keep you engaged. I’ve come across bands trying to combine the two before and normally, it doesn’t work massively well, yet these guys seem to have done it with aplomb. Once again launching into a chorus of epic proportions, this is a band which is going to be a must see on the live scene, a true band you need to hear! The Days After You continue this idea, once again opening with a hard hitting guitar line backed up by a rumbling bass line before moving into another melodic track full to the brim with hooks which are going to pull you in and keep you listening. It’s hard to put into words just how massive the sound these guys have got is, it’s the mixture of hard hitting rock combined with instrumental orchestral elements, awesome stuff.
If Only (we live to tell the tale) is almost a shock at first, opening with orchestral elements and a piano line before launching into a Funeral For A Friend style section of hammering guitars, before pulling back and reverting back to the most basic of elements. This is another example of how this band have clearly thought out their sound and crafted tracks which they want to play rather than following conventions. Another catchy chorus makes this another track which you’re going to have to check out, it’s crafted perfectly for the live scene and suggests good things to come, this is going to be a seriously well received track when it gets out there some more! Closing with Your Country Is Ours, there's one final chance to hear the all out hammering approach of the band in full swing. As a closing track I’m not sure it does the band full justice, but this one still stands out as a serious force to be reckoned with. Closing as it began, there’s no doubt left in my mind that Decode are going to be a very well known band in years to come!
I don’t really know how to sum up my thoughts on this one, I’ve genuinely been blown away by these guys. The sound here is so refined and so well put together that it’s hard to believe this isn’t a more well known band. Their sound is well crafted and demonstrates a band which can evidently play well as a unit, creating 5 tracks here which are going to be on repeat for a long time to come once you’ve gotten hold of this music. My advice – get on and listen to these guys, get out there and check them out – because before long they’re going to be doing far bigger things!
To find out more about Decode, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Shaping Shadows, the album gets off to an energetic start, full of bass, hammering guitar lines and rolling drums. The entire mix is brought together by melodic vocals which seem to soar over everything, creating a sound which is not only hard hitting but also melodic and powerful, this is seriously accomplished stuff here and it works damned well! Catchy and powerful yet bringing in enough of the mainstream ideologies to make this something which could receive airplay on mass radio stations, it’s striking from the off just how these guys have created such an awesome sound. Moving from section to section seamlessly, the sound here is of a far more accomplished band, somehow crafting a sound which you almost feel like you’ve heard before whilst still keeping a sense of the unique running through things.
Enemies continues the theme of the album and launches you head first into a pit of distortion straight off, before pulling back and throwing more melodic elements at you to keep you engaged. I’ve come across bands trying to combine the two before and normally, it doesn’t work massively well, yet these guys seem to have done it with aplomb. Once again launching into a chorus of epic proportions, this is a band which is going to be a must see on the live scene, a true band you need to hear! The Days After You continue this idea, once again opening with a hard hitting guitar line backed up by a rumbling bass line before moving into another melodic track full to the brim with hooks which are going to pull you in and keep you listening. It’s hard to put into words just how massive the sound these guys have got is, it’s the mixture of hard hitting rock combined with instrumental orchestral elements, awesome stuff.
If Only (we live to tell the tale) is almost a shock at first, opening with orchestral elements and a piano line before launching into a Funeral For A Friend style section of hammering guitars, before pulling back and reverting back to the most basic of elements. This is another example of how this band have clearly thought out their sound and crafted tracks which they want to play rather than following conventions. Another catchy chorus makes this another track which you’re going to have to check out, it’s crafted perfectly for the live scene and suggests good things to come, this is going to be a seriously well received track when it gets out there some more! Closing with Your Country Is Ours, there's one final chance to hear the all out hammering approach of the band in full swing. As a closing track I’m not sure it does the band full justice, but this one still stands out as a serious force to be reckoned with. Closing as it began, there’s no doubt left in my mind that Decode are going to be a very well known band in years to come!
I don’t really know how to sum up my thoughts on this one, I’ve genuinely been blown away by these guys. The sound here is so refined and so well put together that it’s hard to believe this isn’t a more well known band. Their sound is well crafted and demonstrates a band which can evidently play well as a unit, creating 5 tracks here which are going to be on repeat for a long time to come once you’ve gotten hold of this music. My advice – get on and listen to these guys, get out there and check them out – because before long they’re going to be doing far bigger things!
To find out more about Decode, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls