Rise to Remain - City of Vultures
EMI 2011
The long awaited first full length release from promising Brit ‘metalcore’ band. This band have got a lot to live up to seeing as lead singer Austin is the son of one of the greatest metal singer of all time, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden. Talk about pressure!
To be labeled and lumped into an already saturated metelcore market only adds to that pressure. Rise to Remain have realised this and are trying to branch out on album number one. This sort of evolution wouldn’t normally come from a band until much later in their career. It feels strange when a band tries to escape a label. Labels shouldn’t matter, but they do. Whether you like labels or not people will judge a band based on that label.
Intro
Nothing much to report. The calm before the storm.
The Serpent
One of the best songs on the album, a metal masterpiece that will leave many of the bands peers shaking in their boots. Fans will be singing along, “Is this the end of the world?”
This Day is Mine
This is the first indication that the bands new material has changed course. Whilst not drastically different from ‘The Serpent’ the vocals are cleaner and the guitar parts are a little less busy. This song acts as a bridge between old and new.
City of Vultures
This song has the same feel as the last one. There are the traditional screams and growls and the hectic guitar parts but the chorus is clean and much slower. A triumph for the album and is definitely worthy of having the album named after it.
Talking in Whispers
This song caters to the wider metal loving community. Powerful and emotional with completely clean vocals throughout. The song works and shows that Rise to Remain are capable of crafting a wide range of music that still rocks.
God Can Bleed
A thought provoking song that would have fit nicely on the ‘Bridges Will Burn’ EP. This song will have fans pumping their fists, air guitaring to the solo and will be a firm favourite live.
Power Through Fear
A true roller-coaster of a ride that will leave the listener wanting more, I particularly like the lyrics “I was created from self-righteous tears, not from devils not from demons but from those who preach power through fear”. Again this will be a firm favourite live.
Nothing Left
Those fans who have been into the band for a couple of years now will know this song already. The song has been remixed for the album which will always cause a divide. Out of the two remixes this is the stronger of the two. The guitars are cleaner and the vocals work much better in this mix. Some of the heaviness has been lost but a catchy song has emerged.
We Will Last Forever
I find this song cruelly builds up to the chorus but disappoints. This is not the strongest song on the album. I’m sure many will disagree but in the context of the rest of the album this seems to be one of the weaker songs.
Illusions
In contrast to the last song this song hits the mark. This is the strongest cleaner style songs. There is a good mix of vocal styles and the song works really well. A brilliantly catchy and deep song to get into. This is perhaps the crowning piece for the album.
Roads
The ballad that could have been the album closer. An interesting song that is well written and delivers what the listen would expect from a ballad.
Bridges Will Burnt
The album closer and the second and last of the remixed songs. Unlike ‘Nothings Left’ this song really misses the mark. New fans will still enjoy it and it is a song full of twists and turns, but the song was brilliant on the EP. Luckily after a few listens the new mix does grow on me as I am sure it will for others.
Songs like ‘The Serpent’, ‘God Can Bleed’ and ‘Power Through Fear’ would not be misplaced amongst the songs from the bands EP’s. All three songs showcase the band as supremely talented musicians. Whilst songs like ‘Talking in Whispers’ and ‘We Will Last Forever’ cater to new fans from a wider metal community.’ Illusions’ is the surprise song of the album. ‘City of Vultures’ is the album to cement the bands place at the forefront of the UK metal scene.
Whether the band is metalcore or not is a matter of opinion, and you would be forgiven for thinking they were if you only listened to the EPs. However the band is evolving fast. Whilst trying to escape one label the band have landed into another and are now more likely to be lumped in with emo esque bands like Bullet for my Valentine. Whether the band is metalcore or emo is irrelevant and is not the biggest controversy with this release. The remixes of ‘Nothing Left’ and ‘Bridges Will Burn’ will no doubt divide opinion. Whilst more polished, I agree with those fans who can’t help but feel that the originals were better. And the contrast in production is evident between these two songs and the rest of the album. In essence, they don’t sit as comfortably on the album as I’m sure the band had hoped they would. You can tell that they are different from the rest of the album. The mix of ‘Bridges Will Burn’ has tried to incorporate atmospheric sounds but has sacrificed the rough and readiness of the EP mix. I guess that for me a song which I thought near perfect in the first place would always be difficult to top.
For fans of the EP’s this album may take a few listens to get into. For new fans of the bands there is enough here to sink your teeth into and songs to appeal to a wide range of tastes. Highlights are plentiful on the album. The title track is perhaps a good overview for the entire album and incorporates the wide music influences into just four minutes. Overall a masterful journey undertaken by talented and promising musician.
City of Vultures: 7/10
'RazorRich' at mlm
The long awaited first full length release from promising Brit ‘metalcore’ band. This band have got a lot to live up to seeing as lead singer Austin is the son of one of the greatest metal singer of all time, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden. Talk about pressure!
To be labeled and lumped into an already saturated metelcore market only adds to that pressure. Rise to Remain have realised this and are trying to branch out on album number one. This sort of evolution wouldn’t normally come from a band until much later in their career. It feels strange when a band tries to escape a label. Labels shouldn’t matter, but they do. Whether you like labels or not people will judge a band based on that label.
Intro
Nothing much to report. The calm before the storm.
The Serpent
One of the best songs on the album, a metal masterpiece that will leave many of the bands peers shaking in their boots. Fans will be singing along, “Is this the end of the world?”
This Day is Mine
This is the first indication that the bands new material has changed course. Whilst not drastically different from ‘The Serpent’ the vocals are cleaner and the guitar parts are a little less busy. This song acts as a bridge between old and new.
City of Vultures
This song has the same feel as the last one. There are the traditional screams and growls and the hectic guitar parts but the chorus is clean and much slower. A triumph for the album and is definitely worthy of having the album named after it.
Talking in Whispers
This song caters to the wider metal loving community. Powerful and emotional with completely clean vocals throughout. The song works and shows that Rise to Remain are capable of crafting a wide range of music that still rocks.
God Can Bleed
A thought provoking song that would have fit nicely on the ‘Bridges Will Burn’ EP. This song will have fans pumping their fists, air guitaring to the solo and will be a firm favourite live.
Power Through Fear
A true roller-coaster of a ride that will leave the listener wanting more, I particularly like the lyrics “I was created from self-righteous tears, not from devils not from demons but from those who preach power through fear”. Again this will be a firm favourite live.
Nothing Left
Those fans who have been into the band for a couple of years now will know this song already. The song has been remixed for the album which will always cause a divide. Out of the two remixes this is the stronger of the two. The guitars are cleaner and the vocals work much better in this mix. Some of the heaviness has been lost but a catchy song has emerged.
We Will Last Forever
I find this song cruelly builds up to the chorus but disappoints. This is not the strongest song on the album. I’m sure many will disagree but in the context of the rest of the album this seems to be one of the weaker songs.
Illusions
In contrast to the last song this song hits the mark. This is the strongest cleaner style songs. There is a good mix of vocal styles and the song works really well. A brilliantly catchy and deep song to get into. This is perhaps the crowning piece for the album.
Roads
The ballad that could have been the album closer. An interesting song that is well written and delivers what the listen would expect from a ballad.
Bridges Will Burnt
The album closer and the second and last of the remixed songs. Unlike ‘Nothings Left’ this song really misses the mark. New fans will still enjoy it and it is a song full of twists and turns, but the song was brilliant on the EP. Luckily after a few listens the new mix does grow on me as I am sure it will for others.
Songs like ‘The Serpent’, ‘God Can Bleed’ and ‘Power Through Fear’ would not be misplaced amongst the songs from the bands EP’s. All three songs showcase the band as supremely talented musicians. Whilst songs like ‘Talking in Whispers’ and ‘We Will Last Forever’ cater to new fans from a wider metal community.’ Illusions’ is the surprise song of the album. ‘City of Vultures’ is the album to cement the bands place at the forefront of the UK metal scene.
Whether the band is metalcore or not is a matter of opinion, and you would be forgiven for thinking they were if you only listened to the EPs. However the band is evolving fast. Whilst trying to escape one label the band have landed into another and are now more likely to be lumped in with emo esque bands like Bullet for my Valentine. Whether the band is metalcore or emo is irrelevant and is not the biggest controversy with this release. The remixes of ‘Nothing Left’ and ‘Bridges Will Burn’ will no doubt divide opinion. Whilst more polished, I agree with those fans who can’t help but feel that the originals were better. And the contrast in production is evident between these two songs and the rest of the album. In essence, they don’t sit as comfortably on the album as I’m sure the band had hoped they would. You can tell that they are different from the rest of the album. The mix of ‘Bridges Will Burn’ has tried to incorporate atmospheric sounds but has sacrificed the rough and readiness of the EP mix. I guess that for me a song which I thought near perfect in the first place would always be difficult to top.
For fans of the EP’s this album may take a few listens to get into. For new fans of the bands there is enough here to sink your teeth into and songs to appeal to a wide range of tastes. Highlights are plentiful on the album. The title track is perhaps a good overview for the entire album and incorporates the wide music influences into just four minutes. Overall a masterful journey undertaken by talented and promising musician.
City of Vultures: 7/10
'RazorRich' at mlm