Pick of the month:
GRAND MAGUS - "Iron Will"
Not a band I'd stumbled across before so first things first, who the hell are they? Apparently, a New York based project formed a round the constant of singer/programmer Daniel Neet and billed by the all seeing Wikipedia as an Industrial Metal band; and judging by this release one with a penchant for miserable cover art. Boasting a discography that dates back to 1990, Waking The Dead marks a return of sorts being the first release under THE CLAY PEOPLE logo since 2001's "Headhunter" EP. e
However this is a decent example of where a wiki entry can be slightly unjust and genre labeling does a disservice as after a bit of repeated listening there is a depth and occasionally very impressive subtlety beyond the layers of distorted guitar. Industrial metal does cover a fair lump of the material as a label but take for example the breakdown of 'Burning Tao' with its electronica borrowed effects hinting at a TANGERINE DREAM album playing in the background, or the superbly unexpected burst of acoustic guitar on the oh so short 'The Ancient One Interlude'. 'Obstacle (Failure)' has an electropop GARY NUMAN style as well to muddy the waters too.
Obviously there's a high percentage of loud angry metal that drives the album with the likes of 'Supersonic Overdrive' and the growling title track 'Waking The Dead' at the top of the album setting a high standard but some brooding, but more mellow numbers such as the impressive 'When Heavens Fall' stand up to the barrage and hold their own. Add to the mix the funky 'Lost' and the magnificent prog-metal power of exquisitely titled 'Saturn vs. The Dreamer (emptiness)' and it's quite a diverse roller coaster ride through the album.
Obviously there's a high percentage of loud angry metal that drives the album with the likes of 'Supersonic Overdrive' and the growling title track 'Waking The Dead' at the top of the album setting a high standard but some brooding, but more mellow numbers such as the impressive 'When Heavens Fall' stand up to the barrage and hold their own. Add to the mix the funky 'Lost' and the magnificent prog-metal power of exquisitely titled 'Saturn vs. The Dreamer (emptiness)' and it's quite a diverse roller coaster ride through the album.
OFFICIAL SITE: www.claypeople.com
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