Illflower
We were recently contacted about Scunthorpe based Illflower, a band with 15 years experience hammering out raw metal. Influenced by the likes of Slayer and Metallica as well as Bon Jovi and Motley Crue, we were sent through a copy of their EP Kingdom Hospital, to see what we thought. As such, I figured we should get something up and posted on the site to see what was going on!
Title track Kingdom Hospital opens things and immediately kicks us into gear with a pounding opener, the backing music forming a sound akin to the pioneers of metal whilst the vocals adopt a gravelly and raspy approach, the whole mix starting heavy and not relenting throughout. The sheer power which the band seem to have achieved in their EP is apparent from the start, facing you with a sound which is accessible but heavy, and clearly formed for the live scene – you can picture the people jumping and moving along to it as it’s played out. Bone Collector follows much the same conventions, opening powerfully and not showing any sign of holding back. The vocals come across as deeper and more powerful on this track, turning the track into something which sounds almost like a live version of Dark Tranqulity whilst still nodding at the pioneers of the metal world – it’s a clever mix which they’ve done well.
Longevity marks a slight change in the EP, opening with a more refined and intricate sound and slowing things down by a fraction, almost giving you a chance to take on board what’s going on around you. Once again clearly crafted for the live scene, the power of experience becomes clear on this track and shows that after 15 years of playing metal, these guys have learned a thing or two! If I Died Today continues the experienced sound, launching into a track which is full to the brim with catchy moments, hooks which get your attention and rhythms which are going to get live crowds pumping. There’s a nod towards the world of punk on this track, the guitar work following the conventions you would expect from a more hardcore punk outfit than a metal band, but once again the guys seem to take this approach, make it their own and make it work.
Closing with Stigmata there’s one last insight into the world of Illflower, opening with spoken word before launching us into another hard hitting and energy fuelled track. Once again managing to combine the elements of heavy with melody and accessibility, this final track is almost a showcase of the abilities of the band from start to finish. Now, as a guitarist I spent the first moments drooling over the guitar work, but getting past that, this is once again another good solid track, the sort of this which becomes a stalwart on a live set as you know it’s going to get people involved with the band – talk about closing on a high.
I like Illflower and the sound they’ve got, it’s got the right balance of power to melody that means you can listen to it whilst still imagining being there and seeing it live, something I’ve got to get out and do sometime this summer! If you’re looking for a band that’s going to pummel and then make you feel better all over again, this is them, so get on it!
To find out more about Illflower, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Title track Kingdom Hospital opens things and immediately kicks us into gear with a pounding opener, the backing music forming a sound akin to the pioneers of metal whilst the vocals adopt a gravelly and raspy approach, the whole mix starting heavy and not relenting throughout. The sheer power which the band seem to have achieved in their EP is apparent from the start, facing you with a sound which is accessible but heavy, and clearly formed for the live scene – you can picture the people jumping and moving along to it as it’s played out. Bone Collector follows much the same conventions, opening powerfully and not showing any sign of holding back. The vocals come across as deeper and more powerful on this track, turning the track into something which sounds almost like a live version of Dark Tranqulity whilst still nodding at the pioneers of the metal world – it’s a clever mix which they’ve done well.
Longevity marks a slight change in the EP, opening with a more refined and intricate sound and slowing things down by a fraction, almost giving you a chance to take on board what’s going on around you. Once again clearly crafted for the live scene, the power of experience becomes clear on this track and shows that after 15 years of playing metal, these guys have learned a thing or two! If I Died Today continues the experienced sound, launching into a track which is full to the brim with catchy moments, hooks which get your attention and rhythms which are going to get live crowds pumping. There’s a nod towards the world of punk on this track, the guitar work following the conventions you would expect from a more hardcore punk outfit than a metal band, but once again the guys seem to take this approach, make it their own and make it work.
Closing with Stigmata there’s one last insight into the world of Illflower, opening with spoken word before launching us into another hard hitting and energy fuelled track. Once again managing to combine the elements of heavy with melody and accessibility, this final track is almost a showcase of the abilities of the band from start to finish. Now, as a guitarist I spent the first moments drooling over the guitar work, but getting past that, this is once again another good solid track, the sort of this which becomes a stalwart on a live set as you know it’s going to get people involved with the band – talk about closing on a high.
I like Illflower and the sound they’ve got, it’s got the right balance of power to melody that means you can listen to it whilst still imagining being there and seeing it live, something I’ve got to get out and do sometime this summer! If you’re looking for a band that’s going to pummel and then make you feel better all over again, this is them, so get on it!
To find out more about Illflower, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls