The End Again (ROI) | ‘My Love Is Dead’

This bunch of lads from Dundalk look absolutely harmless and cite Perfect Circle and Tool as influences. So it’s surprising that their music has somehow ended up sounding like a cracking mix of very late period Paradise Lost and Soil. Personally, I’d only be into one half of that equation - but for a demo, it’s jolly good.

A tussle between proper metal and contemporary styles is ongoing throughout. That’s part of the reason it’s very hard to turn off - like A Little Bitter, a real metallic undercurrent is always discernable. In this instance there’s a decent dose of Layne Staley thrown in to the vocal mix (’Portrait’), with those harmonies executed very well indeed. Derivative yes, but it’s hard to deny the ear candy.

As for the sound, well it’s top notch. So what’s not to like? Well the grating, irritating commercialisms, mainly. It sounds like a producer has been very active over this music. It sounds like that producer was listening to Nickelback and reading Forbes. That producer was probably behind suggestions like putting that shitty, uttlerly passé transistor radio / underwater effect over the drums before a slamming chorus. You know, those kind of irritating and completely unnecessary intrusions into otherwise class tracks.

Also, it’s a bit mopey. You’d forgive them though, with tracks like ‘Running The Blade’ and ‘Ladywell’ showing maturity, ability and a real ear for a chorus. Yes, it’s shot through with an audible desire to be on Cool FM, or whatever your local ballix radio station is at lunchtime, and who knows, more power to them if they succeed. Remove those inclinations and this could be a proper metal / hard rock band for the long term. Over to them, but there’s no denying the quality of the playing.

Earl Grey ::: 22/07/09