melodic metalcore

(8/10) Wovenwar got on my personal radar when they opened for In Flames on their 2014 tour. That was almost to the point two years ago and I can remember very well the power the guys unleashed. Their music electrified the audience in the 013 in Tilburg.

24 months later the guys from San Diego are back with their sophomore record named “Honor is Dead”. The band that rose from the ashes of As I Lay Dying continues their energetic metalcore endeavor with eleven new songs.

This longplayer begins with the mighty grooving "Confession". This song is a good choice for kicking off this album. It's hard, it's fast, it's grooving and it has a melodic chorus that perfectly fits to Wovenwar's wider approach. "Censorship" is the next strike that adds an additional level of brutality before the title track pays more attention to a melodic expression. This doesn't mean that "Honor is Dead" became a catchy song. It's still loaded with razorbalde-sharp riffs and raw power the Wovenwar-way.

In general I must say that "Honor of Dead" carries on what the band started with their debut. The mixture of the three 'm', melody, metal and metalcore, is exciting enough to open doors to a wider group of metal fans. Wovenwar unites these styles to a unique sound without making too many compromisses.

Even songs like the silent "Compass" add something to the bigger picture. Next to the fact that Wovenwar added a lot of emotion and lifeblood to this tune it still represents the band in a good way. It's actually a well placed moment on this energetic album that allows the listener to take a deep breath before the seong half demands again a lot. There's another moment though that takes things from a more relaxed point of view. "Silhouette" follows the same pattern as "Compass", showing the gentle side of Wovenwar. 

Wovenwar's "Honor is Dead" comes without any filler. This longplayer is the bands next step, an album that will strengthen their position in melodic metalcore. This album is modern, dynamic and powerful - simply good stuff for your ears.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Confession
2. Censorship
3. Honor is Dead
4. Lines in the Sand
5. World on Fire
6. Compass
7. Stones Thrown
8. Cascade
9. Silhouette
10. Bloodletter
11. 130

Label: Metal Blade

Genre: Melodic Metalcore

Release Date EU: October 21st, 2016

(8/10) Actually metalcore isn't my most favorite metal style, but High Hopes grabbed my attention. The band, founded in 2012, releases with "Sights And Sounds" their new longplayer that contains nine songs plus an intro.

"Pale Blue Dot" is the name of the spoken words start before with "The Callout" the first heavy moment kicks in. I would say, the song is more hardcore than metalcore, but who cares about details. It's anyhow a good start into the album. The next numbers are faster or more grooving metal tracks before the band gives you a moment to recover.

As a kind of halftime break High Hopes placed an acoustic intermezzo called "Nostalgic Thoughts" in the middle of the album. After one and a half minutes of a mire silent time "Manipulator" begins with a melodic riff. This continues and the guitarlines build a kind of contrast to the harsh shouts of Nick Brooks. The glue that keeps those parts together is a strong bassline and hard hitting drums.

The title track marks the end of this interesting record. Melodic guitars spreads some harmony before a wall of sound adds power to the tune. In the end it's an interction of rough and silent that  caracterizes "Sights & Sounds" which is one of the best tracks on the longplayer.

High Hopes have the benefit of the youth. They guys from Reading are wild and unbound and so is the album.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Pale Blue Dot
2. The Callout
3. Revelation
4. Vanguard
5. MLK
6. Nostalgic Thoughts
7. Manipulator
8. Defender
9. The Greater Plan
10. Sights & Sounds

Label: Victory Records

Genre: Melodic Metalcore

Release Date EU: February 5th, 2016