ALBUM REVIEW: EMPLOYED TO SERVE - THE WARMTH OF A DYING SUN

EMPLOYED TO SERVE
THE WARMTH OF A DYING SUN
Mathcore, Post-Hardcore.
Holy Roar Records.
Listening Format: Vinyl










Employed to Serve return with their second full length LP, 'The Warmth of a Dying Sun'. The Woking quintet's 2015 debut album 'Greyer Than You Remember' was fantastic, showcasing a ragged and chaotic sound combining Post-Hardcore elements with full on Mathcore, showing influences from the likes of label mates Rolo Tomassi, as well as Dillinger Escape Plan and Botch. Since then the band have been touring and playing shows relentlessly, honing their craft and wowing audiences with their destructive, high energy live performances. This has lead to a fairly big anticipation for this sophomore record.

The most notable thing about this follow up record compared to their debut effort is that it isn't quite as wonky, or jarring, or as unpredictable. This is to say that it doesn't just hang on the Mathcore tropes of delivering highly visceral, fast music with odd song arrangements and riffs that jump around a lot. Some of those Mathcore elements are of course retained in their sound, but feel more controlled. 'The Warmth of a Dying Sun' is built on a greater sense of cohesion and linear songwriting than its predecessor. But before fans of the first record start to let out a big groan, let it be known that this does not at all mean that Employed to Serve are sacrificing anything or going soft on us!

From the moment opener 'Void Ambition' kicks in, it is evident than we are still very much in for a very visceral, aggressive and punishing listening experience. In fact this song is one of the more Mathcore oriented songs that weaves fast staccato tech guitar playing, with heavy as fuck dissonant breakdowns and vocalist Justine Jones awesome ear splitting screams. But as the record goes on we can hear influences of Deathcore, particularly in the way guitarist Sammy Urwin adds in his guttural backing vocals that compliment Justine's raw screams very well. Employed to Serve also unashamedly reference slight influences of Nu-Metal in some of the riffs here as well! Again, before you start to groan, hear me out! It is no secret that the band are huge fans of Slipknot (going as far as to sell their own brand of boiler suits on tour). Tracks like 'Good For Nothing' and 'Platform 89' (making an excellent pairing in the tracklist) will suddenly just burst out into these downtuned groovy riffs that would not feel out of place on an early Slipknot record. However because of the absolutely crisp and monstrous production on this album (a notable step up from the debut), these riffs sound absolutely massive and crushing! Stand out track and lead single 'I Spend My Days (Wishing Them Away)' is built around a riff that Deftones would have been proud to have composed at any point in their discography. The vocal production on this track in particular is as dynamic as Deftones too. Even the album sleeve featuring a sticker that reads "parental advisory, crushing content" feels like a nod to Nu-Metal nostalgia!

'The Warmth of a Dying Sun' is also a very dark album lyrically and emotionally. The title track is a huge standout, beginning with a recording of an ominous phonecall before unleashing an unholy barrage of jagged and unforgiving riffs and screams, proving that none of the intensity from the first record or their live performances has been lost here. The track even throws in some eerie clean vocals, making this one of the most ambitious songs the band have ever crafted. After nine relentless and brutal tracks, the album concludes with a lovely softer piece lead by Sammy's hushed vocals and clean guitars in the verses. Ending an album on a "ballad" (for lack of a better word) is perhaps a little bit cliche, but 'Apple Tree' feels as genuinely heartfelt and expressive as anything else on the record, reminding me of 'Artist In the Ambulance' era Thrice.

Employed to Serve have really come through and done exactly what they had to do to deliver a successful sophomore album. This concise 10 track album is not only a step up in terms of production, using a wider pallet of sounds and details, but by actually curbing some of the chaos in favour of implementing more linear moments, it has made the songwriting much more cohesive and memorable throughout. 'The Warmth of a Dying Sun' is intense, it's very heavy and it is brimming with passion and emotion. I'm hearing one of the most exciting Hardcore/Metal albums of 2017 so far. 8/10. 

#308: SLABDRAGGER - RISE OF THE DAWNCRUSHER

2016
Doom/Sludge Metal
Holy Roar Records

 

 

 

Slabdragger have played plenty of gigs in recent years, yet somehow it has taken them 5 years to follow up their fantastic debut LP "Regress". But considering the complexity of their music, I don't really blame them. First Slabdragger took us to the peak of the highest, holiest mountain, and now they have taken us on a trip to outer space, into the not too distant future, where a giant space station threatens to plow through the earth's core! Not only does the comic book style gatefold sleeve reflect this, but the crushing brutality across this entire hour length behemoth will have you picturing colossal drills smashing through your house and into your brain!

 

"Rise of the Dawncrusher" consists of 5 epic tracks. Aside from the 5 minute "breather" "Evacuate!", the tracks here average the 10-15 minute mark. The record opens with a riff worthy of Sleep, balancing just the right amount of Blues, Psychedelia and Stoner vibes. A solid opening, that straight away expresses just how well produced this album is. For a three piece their sound is absolutely massive, taking the supreme heaviness of acts like Conan, and somehow adding even more depth to the mix. The bass of Yusuf Tary is absolutely flattening, and he accomplishes so many different sounds across the whole album. The whole trio bring such a complete, versatile and wild performance. The first two tracks on the album are relatively accessible. Whilst not re-inventing the rulebook or anything, they are extremely solid and heavy as hell tracks that will hook you in straight away. "Evacuate!", being the only short track on the album, is fast and thrashy. Whilst not sacrificing any of the heaviness, it is the only real breathing space on the album (if that counts). But be warned, from track 3, "Shrine of Debauchery" onwards, the album really opens up. Suddenly "Rise of the Dawncrusher" goes from being a solid Stoner Metal album, to an absolutely epic and complex juggernaut.

 

Usually I turn to Holy Roar Records when I want to hear some of the best Mathcore and Post Hardcore going, with acts such as Svalbard, Employed to Serve and Rolo Tomassi being some of their finest signings, so it could seem like Slabdragger might be aside from that audience, but the last half of this record is seriously complex and full of jagged riffs, with so many twists and turns, and surprises around every corner. This is the cornerstone of any great Holy Roar release. Like any great album, it is one where you will hear something new with each listen. The lengthier songs in particular take time to get to know intimately, and with so many great riffs and ideas on show, you will want to take the time to revisit them. This is a record that has a lot of repeat listening quality, so expect to come back to it throughout the year and still find new surprises. "Dawncrusher Rising" has to be my pick of the bunch. This trio just pour everything into this song and it will knock you sideways. I love the way the two vocalists take on different roles throughout the record, but during the crescendo finale of this song, the two come together to scream "DAWNCRUSHER RISE" and it is absolutely ear splitting. You wouldn't believe it takes just three people to make such a massive and well rounded sound, and their breathtaking live shows prove it is certainly no fluke or studio trickery. Slabdragger come at you raw, yet use the expanse of the studio to deliver a meaty, 3 course meal of destruction. Though "Dawncrusher" can be overwhelming in one sitting,this apocalyptic avalanche is likely to keep me entertained throughout the year as I am already excited to return to it. I think Slabdragger have made an even bolder statement here than on their fine debut, and this will be one of the Sludge albums to beat in 2016. 8/10.