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| CDcame out the 11 August 2009 - Century Media |
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DISC
1. Earth
2. Forged in Fire
3. Soldiers of Doomsday
4. Approach the Podium
5. Battle Scars
6. Chest and Horns
7. Creed of Tyrants
8. Our Requiem
9. Classic Struggle
10. The Great Stone War
11. Tides of Change
Bonustrack (Itunes Edition)
12. Halloween (The Misfits Cover)
DVD (HOT TOPIC EDITION)
- Footage of the making of the album and live performance (from The Atticus Metal Tour 2009). |
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| Review |
 14 / 20 |
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Winds of Plague have an interesting genre
description on their Metal Archives page. They’re referred to being
’symphonic deathcore’. Now deathcore is beginning to stagnate at the
moment, nothing really changes with each release, and previous gems in
the filth ridden pools of the genre have moved onto more easily
definable death metal plains (Job for a Cowboy, Suicide Silence). So
understandably, to keep interest in the style, bands need to start
introducing new elements to keep it fresh. I’m not convinced on
symphonic deathcore, but hey, I wasn’t convinced on symphonic black
metal until Dimmu Borgir’s ‘Enthrone Darkness Triumphant’ so who knows
what can happen?!
I was not really a fan of Winds of
Plague’s last effort, ‘Decimate the Weak’. It didn’t stand out to me as
a high point of the burgeoning deathcore scene, especially when efforts
from All Shall Perish and Suicide Silence showed that there was
definitely a sustainable element in the genre. It appears that the
symphonic elements are in there merely to give them something different
from other bands, not as an integral part of the music. ‘The Great
Stone War’ is a definite improvement, the song writing is more mature
and keyboard work actually enhances the rumbling menace of ‘Soldiers of
Doomsday’. Super heavy breakdowns pepper every song, almost perfectly
designed for headbanging and the charm of the album is in these dumber
moments. You get the feeling that the symphonic keyboards and piano
lines are in there to appeal to the more discerning metal fan, rather
than the mosh happy headbanger. To be honest its kind of disappointing
that the second half of the album slides away from the more impressive
opening tracks. I was hoping that we’d finally get to see something
truly essential from these guys.
But the album isn’t all doom and gloom.
They’re a young band, and have legitimately improved with every
release; the song writing is tighter, the riffing is more precise and
the symphonic elements have now been worked into the music better. It
is a genuine breath of fresh air in the style, and I applaud them for
being brave enough to try something like this and have it actually work
to some extent. If they were a movie, they’d be ‘Godzilla’; all weight,
impressive effects but no real substance. It’s a shame, and I do hope
that they can bring together for an essential release because they are
a good band. Musically talented and capable of some excellent tracks
like ‘Battle Scars’, ‘Our Requiem’ and ‘Approach the Podium’, they have
the potential. Let’s hope that the next time they can move from
‘Godzilla’ to ‘Cloverfield’, and create something that is worth
repeated attention, instead of being a guilty pleasure.
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| Review |
 14 / 20 |
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The combination of Symphonic Deathcore and Black Metal is appealing to the eyes Winds of Plague. The idea of all-in-one is a good vision. Not to mention, exciting. But visions and theories are nothing unless put to life, the proper way that is. Then results are judged, by you and me...
I have seen this band perform at Summer Slaughter Tour and I can assure you, they know how to get the crowd going. Of course, stage presence is not the only key to a great band. There are series of other things, like actual talent.
It was very difficult for me to tell if I was still on one track or if I've moved on and now listening to another track. They all sound very similar. I started on track 1, then unknowingly I was on the 4th track. How did it happen, was I there? It is that forgettable. It doesn't hold your attention, you will get lost. It's not the happy kind of feeling of lost in love for music, but the feeling of dread you've just bestowed upon yourself.
I want to appreciate the vocalist's approach in merging various stylings. Some approach made good results, but most resulted in perforation of the eardrums. Nothing spectacular about the plain keyboard structure either. And the one-way technique and over use of the double bass on the drums (yes, there is such a thing). The guitars atleast attempted with precision. 'Battle Scars' is an example of good effort that I perceived as their only technical material. Maybe also a bit of 'Soldiers Of Doomsday'. The remaining contains repetition of laughable break downs and the usual Death Metal chord progressions.
I realized their last album got some really bad reviews. It's clear they are trying their hardest to break down boundaries with sub genres. There is always room for improvement.
In conlusion; I do not recommend it to anyone, for it will not move you, not an inch. Perhaps with their next album?
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