XIII
We were recently sent through details of XIII, a metal band hailing from Hull, the their debut full length album, North Of Nowhere. Having resorted to being a 3 piece (with the three founding members), these guys have already been hand picked to support Maleface, as well as securing slots with Skyclad, Sworn Amongst and Hecate Enthroned in their time together. Working to develop their sound and push their boundaries, the album is the result of hard work, dedication, and a true sense of metal running through the veins of the band members – so I figured I’d better hit play!
Opening with Triskaidekaphobia (the extreme fear of the number 13 don’t you know…) things get off to a heavy and distorted start, immediately hammering onwards with some heavy guitar lines, pounding drums and a real heavy sense of bass flowing through the mix. Building and building as the track begins, the opening moments of this album are fast, heavy, and the sort of thing which pits are going to go mental to. Despite the all out hammering approach, there’s also a real sense of melody running through things in the music, the guitars working with the drums and bass to form the distorted backing tone before the screaming vocals come in to take the lead. Developing into a sound akin to the likes of Slayer, this is full on and in your face stuff, and it’s most good to hear! Breaking Point continues the all out approach, almost continuing straight on from the previous track and once again hammering onwards with a distorted and powerful approach to proceedings. Chunky guitar lines fuel the track as the drums signal the entry of a new level of power, a place where we’re going to be thrown into an almighty pit and not released until the moment the track comes to a close. Once again sounding akin to the better early thrash style stuff, this full on in your face track doesn’t hold back, and once again we’re pulled through it by our eye balls, leaving no doubt that this is one hell of a band with one hell of a mission.
Retribution comes as somewhat of a shock then when it opens with soft guitars and a real sense of reflection running through the music. Building into a mix of guitars and soaring lead lines, the introduction moments of this track move away from the full on heavy approach and allow you a moment to take on what you’ve heard so far. Combining the soft approach with a sense of power, darkness and distortion, the mix which you end up with here is one which doesn’t follow convention or try to be anything else, instead simply showing us what the band are capable of producing. The Longest Day takes this up to another new level, this time returning us to the more full on approach and producing a track which holds all of the hallmarks of a live anthem in the waiting. Don’t be deceived by the subtle opening moments of this track as soon enough, once again the rolling double bass takes the lead, combines with the full on guitar and vocal approach and we’re shown off more of the raw side of the band, once again hammering us with a mix which is impossible to resist. I really like the combination of melody and full on riffery that these guys are capable of, it’s the sort of thing which sets them apart from the usual metal approach and stands them out as an act to make sure you check out.
Fahrenheit, Down N Out, The Beaten Path and Unlucky For Some (Save Us) all continue the distorted approach of the album, each track coming as a sludgy distorted reminder of who we’re listening to, but it’s when title track North Of Nowhere comes about to take the lead that we’re once again treated to a serious high on the album. Once again hammering onwards from the word go, this is a track which is going to find its true power on the live scene, the sort of track which is going to fuel pits and leave you wondering why you didn’t start a metal band when you had a chance. Standing out as one of my personal favourites from the album, this is a track which epitomises the style of the band and shows us why we need to sit up and take note of what’s on offer. Slow, distorted and powerful throughout, it’s a sound which is impossible to resist, the sort of sound which renews your faith in live music and reminds you why you started listening to metal in the first place. Eclipse once again continues the theme of all out metal, coming in with a distorted introduction before launching us into a pounding and riff fuelled melee of guitars, bass, drums and vocals. This is the sound that you’ve been waiting for, the sort of sound which you want to see at a festival, and the sort of sound which the world needs right now as simply, it’ll kill all the pop shite we’re subjected to most of the time!
Fuckin’ Scum sounds heavy before it even begins, and doesn’t disappoint as the track comes into being. Fast paced and fuelled by distorted, the roar of ‘fuckin’ scum’ gets the track in motion and launches us into a track which is full of aggression, power and venom, the sort of track which is classically referred to as thrash but holds more power than such a simplistic tag. Layering the vocals at times just to make sure you’re listening and fully appreciating what’s on offer, the heavy riffs we’re hammered with here continue to raise the bar on the record, leading the way for When God Is Gone…The Devil Takes Hold to come in to take the lead. Once again launching us head first into the track, there’s a real sense of melody running through this one which once again seems to elevate this track beyond a simplistic tag and sets it apart from the rest of the album, allowing it to stand alone as a track to make sure you check out. There’s something more accessible about this track, something which makes it almost easy to listen to, and something which shows off the melodic, music ability within the band. Sure it’s fast paced, heavy and full on, but there’s more to it than that, something which pushes this up to a whole new level, resulting in one hell of a track.
Closing with Forever, the album finishes with an acoustic intro to the final track, finishing with a display of how these guys work and what their thoughts on music are, almost finishing with a track designed to leave you questioning what’s going to come next. Soft and melodic, the final moments here are a far cry from the heavy moments which kept the album going, yet somehow seem to work to finish things off – it’s a strange ending, but one which makes me want to go back through it all again.
XIII are one of those bands that have undersold themselves on their bio, saying they’re one thing when realistically, they’re a combination of different approaches which sets them apart from the usual scene. I really like the record they’ve produced here as simply, it showcases their style and shows that they understand what it is they’re doing – and can do it damned well! Definitely a band I’ll be aiming to catch on the live scene, make sure you check these guys out!
To find out more about XIII, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Triskaidekaphobia (the extreme fear of the number 13 don’t you know…) things get off to a heavy and distorted start, immediately hammering onwards with some heavy guitar lines, pounding drums and a real heavy sense of bass flowing through the mix. Building and building as the track begins, the opening moments of this album are fast, heavy, and the sort of thing which pits are going to go mental to. Despite the all out hammering approach, there’s also a real sense of melody running through things in the music, the guitars working with the drums and bass to form the distorted backing tone before the screaming vocals come in to take the lead. Developing into a sound akin to the likes of Slayer, this is full on and in your face stuff, and it’s most good to hear! Breaking Point continues the all out approach, almost continuing straight on from the previous track and once again hammering onwards with a distorted and powerful approach to proceedings. Chunky guitar lines fuel the track as the drums signal the entry of a new level of power, a place where we’re going to be thrown into an almighty pit and not released until the moment the track comes to a close. Once again sounding akin to the better early thrash style stuff, this full on in your face track doesn’t hold back, and once again we’re pulled through it by our eye balls, leaving no doubt that this is one hell of a band with one hell of a mission.
Retribution comes as somewhat of a shock then when it opens with soft guitars and a real sense of reflection running through the music. Building into a mix of guitars and soaring lead lines, the introduction moments of this track move away from the full on heavy approach and allow you a moment to take on what you’ve heard so far. Combining the soft approach with a sense of power, darkness and distortion, the mix which you end up with here is one which doesn’t follow convention or try to be anything else, instead simply showing us what the band are capable of producing. The Longest Day takes this up to another new level, this time returning us to the more full on approach and producing a track which holds all of the hallmarks of a live anthem in the waiting. Don’t be deceived by the subtle opening moments of this track as soon enough, once again the rolling double bass takes the lead, combines with the full on guitar and vocal approach and we’re shown off more of the raw side of the band, once again hammering us with a mix which is impossible to resist. I really like the combination of melody and full on riffery that these guys are capable of, it’s the sort of thing which sets them apart from the usual metal approach and stands them out as an act to make sure you check out.
Fahrenheit, Down N Out, The Beaten Path and Unlucky For Some (Save Us) all continue the distorted approach of the album, each track coming as a sludgy distorted reminder of who we’re listening to, but it’s when title track North Of Nowhere comes about to take the lead that we’re once again treated to a serious high on the album. Once again hammering onwards from the word go, this is a track which is going to find its true power on the live scene, the sort of track which is going to fuel pits and leave you wondering why you didn’t start a metal band when you had a chance. Standing out as one of my personal favourites from the album, this is a track which epitomises the style of the band and shows us why we need to sit up and take note of what’s on offer. Slow, distorted and powerful throughout, it’s a sound which is impossible to resist, the sort of sound which renews your faith in live music and reminds you why you started listening to metal in the first place. Eclipse once again continues the theme of all out metal, coming in with a distorted introduction before launching us into a pounding and riff fuelled melee of guitars, bass, drums and vocals. This is the sound that you’ve been waiting for, the sort of sound which you want to see at a festival, and the sort of sound which the world needs right now as simply, it’ll kill all the pop shite we’re subjected to most of the time!
Fuckin’ Scum sounds heavy before it even begins, and doesn’t disappoint as the track comes into being. Fast paced and fuelled by distorted, the roar of ‘fuckin’ scum’ gets the track in motion and launches us into a track which is full of aggression, power and venom, the sort of track which is classically referred to as thrash but holds more power than such a simplistic tag. Layering the vocals at times just to make sure you’re listening and fully appreciating what’s on offer, the heavy riffs we’re hammered with here continue to raise the bar on the record, leading the way for When God Is Gone…The Devil Takes Hold to come in to take the lead. Once again launching us head first into the track, there’s a real sense of melody running through this one which once again seems to elevate this track beyond a simplistic tag and sets it apart from the rest of the album, allowing it to stand alone as a track to make sure you check out. There’s something more accessible about this track, something which makes it almost easy to listen to, and something which shows off the melodic, music ability within the band. Sure it’s fast paced, heavy and full on, but there’s more to it than that, something which pushes this up to a whole new level, resulting in one hell of a track.
Closing with Forever, the album finishes with an acoustic intro to the final track, finishing with a display of how these guys work and what their thoughts on music are, almost finishing with a track designed to leave you questioning what’s going to come next. Soft and melodic, the final moments here are a far cry from the heavy moments which kept the album going, yet somehow seem to work to finish things off – it’s a strange ending, but one which makes me want to go back through it all again.
XIII are one of those bands that have undersold themselves on their bio, saying they’re one thing when realistically, they’re a combination of different approaches which sets them apart from the usual scene. I really like the record they’ve produced here as simply, it showcases their style and shows that they understand what it is they’re doing – and can do it damned well! Definitely a band I’ll be aiming to catch on the live scene, make sure you check these guys out!
To find out more about XIII, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
