Shores Of Attica
The chaps in Shores Of Attica recently dropped us a line about their latest album, Transitions, to see what we thought of things. Not giving a lot away about themselves other than to say they’re a 5 piece metal/hardcore outfit from Fife in Scotland, I figured I’d let the music do the talking for the guys so hit play!
Opening with the bass heavy riffs of Taken we’re immediately thrown into a pit of all out distortion and devastation, immediately setting the tone on heavy and showing that hardcore is alive and well in Scotland. Fast paced and harking towards the likes of Hatebreed, the album gets off to a note which is sure to go down well on the live scene, harnessing the sort of power which is sure to get live crowds pumping, moving, chanting and throwing down in pits across the venue. Deal With Repercussions follows much the same sort of tone, continuing to bombard your ears with distorted guitar lines, pounding drums and roaring vocals. What’s most striking here is the syncopated approach the band have gone for, showing they’re not here to simply go through the motions, but can instead put their own take on things and add a real sense of technical ability to things when they choose, marking this track as a serious high point on the album and a track to check out for sure.
Amen marks another high point on the record, this time breaking things down to a simpler level and choosing to instead return to their heavy assed roots. Pounding through the track at a slower pace, the sheer power of this track seems to be accentuated by the slower beat, throwing up hook after hook as well as a chorus which will get you singing along from the off. This contrast between roaring and singing stands the band in good stead, showing that they can add in surprises to their tracks which keep you listening, guessing, and unsure of what’s coming to next – you’re almost compelled to keep listening so you don’t miss anything. Lost returns to the fast paced circle pit territory of the early moments of the record, showing that the slower moments were merely a lure to keep you going before the real power is unleashed. Once again forming a track which is sure to be a live anthem, this is a serious track here, packed with heaviness, riffs, intricate lead lines, drumlines which will bring out the air drummer in you, and a bass line designed to crush your rib cage. This one was my personal favourite – definitely a track to check out.
Title track Transitions and Respect Can’t Be Bought both continue the raw power, the former standing out thanks to the melodic elements which the band seem to have managed to incorporate into the mix, showing that this isn’t just a display of all out power, but that there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s when See The Divide comes into being though that yet another side of the band is put on display, showing that the musicianship within the band is also going to be a serious force to be reckoned with. Packing the track with intricate guitar lines as well as a serious dose of heaviness, this melodic heavy power here is something which isn’t often achieved, and something which is going to help this band on their way to world domination. Don’t get me wrong – it’s still a damned heavy track, but it’s more complex than a simple heavy tag – one to check out for sure!
Closing with Changes we’re left on a melodic and dark tone to close things, almost pointing at a new chapter to follow this album and showing that this band fully understand what it is they’re doing. A serious high point on the record, it’s finishing on a high in the best possible way, showing that there’s more to come, the band know what they’re doing and forcing you to go through the whole thing again just to make sure you didn’t miss a single second.
I went into Shores Of Attica not really knowing what to expect, so to come across an album like this is quite frankly mind blowing. From start to finish here we’re shown some of the most intricate hard core I’ve come across, leading me to suggest that this isn’t just hardcore, it’s hardcore with a sense of prog thrown into the mix to propel it to a new level. If you like heavy but melodic then Shores Of Attica are a band to check out for sure – definitely one to look out for.
To find out more about Shores Of Attica, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with the bass heavy riffs of Taken we’re immediately thrown into a pit of all out distortion and devastation, immediately setting the tone on heavy and showing that hardcore is alive and well in Scotland. Fast paced and harking towards the likes of Hatebreed, the album gets off to a note which is sure to go down well on the live scene, harnessing the sort of power which is sure to get live crowds pumping, moving, chanting and throwing down in pits across the venue. Deal With Repercussions follows much the same sort of tone, continuing to bombard your ears with distorted guitar lines, pounding drums and roaring vocals. What’s most striking here is the syncopated approach the band have gone for, showing they’re not here to simply go through the motions, but can instead put their own take on things and add a real sense of technical ability to things when they choose, marking this track as a serious high point on the album and a track to check out for sure.
Amen marks another high point on the record, this time breaking things down to a simpler level and choosing to instead return to their heavy assed roots. Pounding through the track at a slower pace, the sheer power of this track seems to be accentuated by the slower beat, throwing up hook after hook as well as a chorus which will get you singing along from the off. This contrast between roaring and singing stands the band in good stead, showing that they can add in surprises to their tracks which keep you listening, guessing, and unsure of what’s coming to next – you’re almost compelled to keep listening so you don’t miss anything. Lost returns to the fast paced circle pit territory of the early moments of the record, showing that the slower moments were merely a lure to keep you going before the real power is unleashed. Once again forming a track which is sure to be a live anthem, this is a serious track here, packed with heaviness, riffs, intricate lead lines, drumlines which will bring out the air drummer in you, and a bass line designed to crush your rib cage. This one was my personal favourite – definitely a track to check out.
Title track Transitions and Respect Can’t Be Bought both continue the raw power, the former standing out thanks to the melodic elements which the band seem to have managed to incorporate into the mix, showing that this isn’t just a display of all out power, but that there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s when See The Divide comes into being though that yet another side of the band is put on display, showing that the musicianship within the band is also going to be a serious force to be reckoned with. Packing the track with intricate guitar lines as well as a serious dose of heaviness, this melodic heavy power here is something which isn’t often achieved, and something which is going to help this band on their way to world domination. Don’t get me wrong – it’s still a damned heavy track, but it’s more complex than a simple heavy tag – one to check out for sure!
Closing with Changes we’re left on a melodic and dark tone to close things, almost pointing at a new chapter to follow this album and showing that this band fully understand what it is they’re doing. A serious high point on the record, it’s finishing on a high in the best possible way, showing that there’s more to come, the band know what they’re doing and forcing you to go through the whole thing again just to make sure you didn’t miss a single second.
I went into Shores Of Attica not really knowing what to expect, so to come across an album like this is quite frankly mind blowing. From start to finish here we’re shown some of the most intricate hard core I’ve come across, leading me to suggest that this isn’t just hardcore, it’s hardcore with a sense of prog thrown into the mix to propel it to a new level. If you like heavy but melodic then Shores Of Attica are a band to check out for sure – definitely one to look out for.
To find out more about Shores Of Attica, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
