Take The Throne-Guardian Ep

Genre: Metalcore Hometown: St. Catharines Canada

Track 1. Intro- A creepy yet peaceful piano plays, the intro for this album. A piece of subtle mystery with more dread carrying as it continues. It picks up a swift and interesting digital beat. Which becomes sweet fucking metal at the right time. I like how this thing started out. It established a presence. The mood for the album. It went from peaceful to dark. Giving a flavor of maybe whats to come. Piano parts that have a amazing gift that impresses. Also, a crisp and careful digital beat. And a mind roaring distortion, That proudly and awesomely states. I am here. I am alive.... I have arrived. Let's go!

Track 2. Ghosts- The onslaught is apparent right off the bat. Brutal. Though I can not make these vocals out, They fit quite well with this music. Some roars can get annoying. Tight fucking drums. Sharp enunciating guitar parts. A foreboding dark theme. Some parts are cool and grooving, some heavy as shit. And an aggression that is enticingly cool. There are parts here that are quite technical. A menacing hoard of madness, that eventually fades upon it's awesome melodies into the utter darkness, cool yet interesting shit.

Track 3. Captive- The song is established by a melodic and yes foreboding lead guitar. The drum beat is not far behind with hits tight heavy balls to the wall presence. As you listen to this song. Sweet dangling madness is involved within these melodies. There's a metal rocking here, that spins into sorta cool directions. The vocals, convey, desperation. I wish the words were clearer, but I understand the aggression with the type of music. The heavy riffs kick you in the face. With no care for your busted teeth. The subtle digital effects are a nice touch, as is the bass line that spits in your face. Coolness. Drums that pound, pound, and pound some more, hard as nails, and hell. Off, and awkward yet cool, thrilling guitar riffs. The high and low pitched roars, almost seem to argue, but they carry the song, in a sick yet awesome way.

Track 4. The Void- Into the picture comes a melodic guitar part that chimes to single notes, and another more interesting one with it. A beat that slowly announces the presence of utter madness. More sick, all over the place technical, in your face heavy metal. Sound's a bit cookie cutter almost, yes there s cookie cutter death metal. A bit of the same formula here. But the drums are tight, are the guitars, parts are well timed and impressive. Vocals again could drain the life from a corpse near death. Brutal at times, melodic at others, and here and there it has an interesting rocking groove. I like how it's not just a wall of noise. They actually change things up. This is good. There is talent and thorough creativity here, though it is dark, and fucked up beyond all reality, still muttering massive coolness. And the song ends on a bad ass groove.

Track 5. Beneath It All- INSTANT rocking awesome melodic metal madness. I wish they would have had a melody to start the song off, something sick would have been nice. More of the same good and weird stuff here. Even though things do sound off here, the way this madness is all compiled together it's halfway cool and interesting. It's some mind bending metal. And it changes, that's a great thing. I love the occasional digital drum beats thrown in. The rapid pace that throws itself towards smooth and brutal as hell is thoroughly satisfying. Some great material here. The vocals seem to convey it all. Pain, frustration, loss, motivation, accomplishment. And this track fades upon the notes of a simmering guitar. Track 6. Apology- A lead guitar established what can be described as a melodic overlay of metal. Possibly this songs theme. It becomes louder into the picture of your head. The rumble of metal screams in. Interesting yet masterful dynamics. The formula seems to have changed, again. Massively impressed here. A digital stroke of odd genius. I only wish this track would have been longer, they were trudging into some stellar territory. Damn good stuff.

Track 7. Artificial Heart- So it seems they alternated back to their, heavy balls to the wall of metal here. Heavy cool groove. It pounds you into the cement. Cool and encapsulating lead guitar melodies. The mini decrescendo and squeals, as well as cool as guitar hooks are a welcome add to the mix. The drums NEVER disappoint. Nor do the brutal vocals. The conveyed mood is pretty consistent. Cold, dead, and dying. Something that is just laying their going through the motions, it was transplanted, but it's just sort of hanging on. A sincere taste of madness. The insane distant dirty vocals, which are somewhat audible and clear are pretty cool. A very good addition to the track. A foreboding feel. At least the theme is consistent and impressive through the album. Again, well written and put together. The heavy march of death flavored metal fades to nothing within the snap of a finger.

Track 8. Deserter- From seemingly nowhere. A cool, digital melody gives way to a cool as hell, metal riff, drum line and pair of roaring vocals intending on causing you pain drenched in the bowels of hell. Chaotic action reigns supreme with the soul of the guitar riffs. A crazed sensation of purposeful lost inspired vocals. Did I mention desperation? Those cool clean vocals are thrown in again. A welcome change. These guys change things up, at the right time. You are twisted and thrown into directions of unknown awesomeness. I like how this band does not settle with one precise formula. But constantly improves its sound and song structure as the songs on this album have progressed along. Though one thing is consistent, their crazy as hell flavor of brutal metal, mixed in with clean melodic metal overlays, thrown in at the perfect subtle spots. I love it. I dig it. And the album ends upon the rightful clang of a powerful cymbal.

My ears appreciated the trip through the creative balance that this album has been. Though not quite perfect they edged close. Tough review, as the album went on, I started to hear more of the clear dirty and clean vocals. Would loved to have heard more of that put into the songs with the roaring vocals. That would have been amazing, although I think this band is on the right path. How can they get better? Everything is pretty damn good here, I enjoyed a lot of the music, just put some of the clean and dirty clear vocals in some of the spots with the roars, and this thing would be close to a masterpiece of melodic and brutal metal. My favorite song though it was not easy picking is probably the bonus track. Keep it up guys! Great material!

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Overall Rating 8/10

By Mister Man-Patrick Wooten for facebook.com/tasteofkhaos