Flame Fracture
Flame Fracture, a Southern based melodic death metal band, recently got in touch about latest offering, The Keep, to see what we thought. Having already played along side the likes of Amon Amarth, Paradise Lost, Anthrax and Chimaira at Hammerfest IV, this seems to be a band who are already on the up and gaining some good attention from the world. As such, I thought it only right to check out what was on offer!
Opening with The Black Torch it’s clear from the off that this is going to be a dark and distorted journey, opening with an eerie piano line backed up by a variety of synths to create an intriguing start to things. Acting as a build up track to the EP beginning properly, this track sets the scene and leads you by the hand, taking you in to the music and letting you know that what you’re about to hear is going to be one hell of a ride. Throwing all of this soft and gentle approach out the window, This I Vow follows on and straight away, gets things up to pace and moving. Fast and distorted from the off, the sense of melody flowing through the distorted backing is quite phenomenal, showing that it is possible to combine hard and soft and make it work. Roaring vocals are the key here, grabbing you by the throat and forcing you through the track, the hard hitting undertones of the track forcing you into the pit to move along with the band. As an introduction to a band this seems to work pretty well to be honest, letting us know what we’re in for and almost showcasing the different elements of the band.
Leading into My Own Identity it’s clear that this sound is going to continue throughout, layering the mix with roaring vocals, pounding drums and intricate lead lines which elevate things to a new level. Throughout the powerful track there’s snippets which draw you in, hooks almost which suddenly catch your ears and you can’t help but listen in a little harder just to make sure you don’t miss anything. To me, it’s clear why these guys have already built such a reputation on the live scene, their music is perfectly crafted to destroy venues, get pits going and get crowds involved – something I have to get out to see for myself! Moving into The Keeper we’re presented with a serious high point on the EP, launching into a track which harnesses all of the power of the band and propels you onwards, keeping the sound insanely heavy yet once again adding in intricate lead lines and moments of pure melody which moves this away from a simplistic pigeon holed genre. Another track which is perfectly crafted for the live scene, this to me is my favourite track off of the EP, harking back to the likes of Dark Tranquility at times, and at other times simply powering onwards with their death metal orientated guitar and drum combination.
Closing the EP with Life Force we’re left on another serious high point, once again showing off the more melodic side of the band and proving that sometimes, heavy can be achieved with a hint of softness thrown into the mix. Slower at first, the opening moments of this track border on atmospheric, revealing a musical ability which is all too often lost, and showing that this is a band with a seriously bright future ahead of them. Kicking into an almighty riff, we’re soon moved away from the soft opening moments of this track and once again propelled into a world of dark distortion, a place where all that matters is the heaviness of the track, and a place where you’re going to be forced into one hell of a pit!
There’s going to be those out there who say that Flame Fracture are too heavy for them, but to me, this is where music is going at the moment. The ability to combine hard and soft throughout this EP is a demonstration of the bands ability and musical knowledge, showing that sometimes it’s better not to judge a book by its cover. Sure this is heavy, but there’s way more to it than that, meaning this is an EP which you need to check out.
To find out more about Flame Fracture, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with The Black Torch it’s clear from the off that this is going to be a dark and distorted journey, opening with an eerie piano line backed up by a variety of synths to create an intriguing start to things. Acting as a build up track to the EP beginning properly, this track sets the scene and leads you by the hand, taking you in to the music and letting you know that what you’re about to hear is going to be one hell of a ride. Throwing all of this soft and gentle approach out the window, This I Vow follows on and straight away, gets things up to pace and moving. Fast and distorted from the off, the sense of melody flowing through the distorted backing is quite phenomenal, showing that it is possible to combine hard and soft and make it work. Roaring vocals are the key here, grabbing you by the throat and forcing you through the track, the hard hitting undertones of the track forcing you into the pit to move along with the band. As an introduction to a band this seems to work pretty well to be honest, letting us know what we’re in for and almost showcasing the different elements of the band.
Leading into My Own Identity it’s clear that this sound is going to continue throughout, layering the mix with roaring vocals, pounding drums and intricate lead lines which elevate things to a new level. Throughout the powerful track there’s snippets which draw you in, hooks almost which suddenly catch your ears and you can’t help but listen in a little harder just to make sure you don’t miss anything. To me, it’s clear why these guys have already built such a reputation on the live scene, their music is perfectly crafted to destroy venues, get pits going and get crowds involved – something I have to get out to see for myself! Moving into The Keeper we’re presented with a serious high point on the EP, launching into a track which harnesses all of the power of the band and propels you onwards, keeping the sound insanely heavy yet once again adding in intricate lead lines and moments of pure melody which moves this away from a simplistic pigeon holed genre. Another track which is perfectly crafted for the live scene, this to me is my favourite track off of the EP, harking back to the likes of Dark Tranquility at times, and at other times simply powering onwards with their death metal orientated guitar and drum combination.
Closing the EP with Life Force we’re left on another serious high point, once again showing off the more melodic side of the band and proving that sometimes, heavy can be achieved with a hint of softness thrown into the mix. Slower at first, the opening moments of this track border on atmospheric, revealing a musical ability which is all too often lost, and showing that this is a band with a seriously bright future ahead of them. Kicking into an almighty riff, we’re soon moved away from the soft opening moments of this track and once again propelled into a world of dark distortion, a place where all that matters is the heaviness of the track, and a place where you’re going to be forced into one hell of a pit!
There’s going to be those out there who say that Flame Fracture are too heavy for them, but to me, this is where music is going at the moment. The ability to combine hard and soft throughout this EP is a demonstration of the bands ability and musical knowledge, showing that sometimes it’s better not to judge a book by its cover. Sure this is heavy, but there’s way more to it than that, meaning this is an EP which you need to check out.
To find out more about Flame Fracture, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls