Three Hour Ceasefire | ‘Cry Havoc’

You know, it’s been a while since there’s been an Irish band with the same kind of crushing weight as Coldwar.

Whatever it is about that band’s production – but more likely their pure and still undiminished scorn – they’ve been more or less unmatched in sonic ball breaking terms.

Three Hour Ceasefire however are worthy inheritors of the influence. The sound on this debut EP is one of the heaviest in a while. Not the fastest. Not the flashest. The heaviest.

Opener ‘Time Of The Empty Throne’ belts out in what comes to be a characteristic hard rumble, and though the shouts and yelps feel a tad superfluous, the band announce their intentions with a massive build.

‘Behold, Rejoice’ is the first track proper from the Limerick lads, and shows exactly how they’ve drawn from their self professed influences of old Sepultura and Entombed.

It’s the vocals of the former and the mid-period crunch of the latter. We’re talking more ‘Wolverine Blues’ than ‘Clandestine’, probably, although ‘Trial Of Wounds’ recalls the classic cut ‘Out Of Hand’ in it’s rocking pace.

It’s the kind of metal who’s power comes from constant beats on the first of the bar, underlaid by hammering double kick.

To that end, ‘When Prophecy Fails’ has a sort of mid period Asphyx vibe to it (like their ‘God Cries’), courtesy of some dark jangling chords that add character over the darkened pummel.

Last up, ‘Fall Under Foot’ is a most enjoyable pumper – having a sort of small ‘m’ militaristic vibe that just bangs of anger and aggro.

Like Atheos, these guys have crafted some seriously impressive and hard hitting stuff in here. What they lack in technical prowess they make up for in spite – ably confirmed by the positively larynx-tarring vocal workout.

Well paced, hard and havey as a brick shithouse. Do the needful and check them out.

- Earl Grey ::: 05/07/12