ARTIST: Fuera
ALBUM NAME: Balancing Machine EP
RELEASE DATE: 12 April 2016
COUNTRY: South Africa
CITY: Cape Town
GENRE: Progressive Death Metal
MEMBERS:
Nicholas Kerr – (Guitar and Growls)
Joshua Cole-Mitchell – (Guitar and Vocals)
Greg Williams – (Bass)
Jonathan Burgers – (Drums)
HOLY SMOKE!
This band has surprised me. The progression in each song is so well conducted. From intense death growls to ballad tones with ease, all connected with very interesting guitar riffs and beat blasts. I love how intense each song gets, before it turns itself into a beautiful melody.
Did I hear rain on a tin roof or fire crackling in the intro to Andromeda Inbound? I love their use of different sound effects, it shows the competence of a keen musician, and these guys are on point. 1:30 seconds and we have the most epic instrumental that gets you super keen for the brutality waiting on the other side.
Side note: I’m really enjoying this band.
Plot twist, I actually love this band.
The song Balancing Machine is typical of a melodic death metal song, until 1:19 seconds, where your ears are attacked by screams and growls and then 1:40 hits and it feels like I’m listening to a Nine Inch Nails song. Might I add, this is a great thing.
System of a Down meets After the Burial, with a dash of HOKUM, a little bit of The Kickstands and a smear of Nonpoint. How all of these connect is beyond me, but they do, and it is beautiful. Yes, these guys are a progressive death metal band, but don’t be fooled, I don’t think they can fit into a box that neatly. Their music is rather multi-faceted, and the songs are fuller, with experimental sounds.
Well done on the production side of things, mense. The instruments are all clear, the voices can be heard properly and the timing is spot on! Not something easily achieved, so once again, well done.
The vocalist, Joshua, has an amazing singing voice. Really like the atmosphere it creates in these songs. Nicholas, your growls are on point Sir. To the bass guitarist, Greg and the drummer, Jonathan, your styles really do complement each other, as every bass and drum duo should.
If I did have any constructive criticism for the band, it would be to try and mix up the stable riffs you always seem to use to join different aspects to each song. When you get to song 5, you realize the method behind the madness, and see that there is a bit of a checklist to each song. Don’t let yourselves become predictable, there is so much talent here.
Reviewed by: Splice (more from Splice)
Date: 29 April 2016
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