Century Media – Out Now.
The death of a loved one can be a devastating experience and there is no ‘right’ way of dealing with it. While some find solace in isolation, others do so in expression.
Greg Mackintosh, guitarist and founding member of UK metallers Paradise Lost decided to deal with the death of his father three years ago by forming the Doom Death combo Vallenfyre and by releasing, under their moniker, a sad, angry and heavy-sounding album entitled “A Fragile King”.
Three years after that album first saw the light of day, Vallenfyre are back with their second offering “Splinters” – another collection of emotionally-charged compositions that are bound to attract the attention of fans of all styles of Metal.
For somebody like me, whose understanding of what constitutes good quality extreme Metal was first shaped in the late 80s/early 90s, no album could be more enjoyable than “Splinters”.
I mean, who in their right mind does not like a Doom Death album whose monstrous heavily distorted riffs are influenced by the works of legends of extreme Metal such as Celtic Frost and Napalm Death and whose mournful melodies are similar to Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride at the early stages of their careers?
These eleven compositions are quick to impress, but reveal their full charms slowly.
Are you still angry with Paradise Lost for giving up on the melodic Death Metal of their iconic “Gothic” album? Opening track “Scabs” mixes such elements with the aggression and urgency of Entombed and, in the process, offers us all a true gem of a song.
Equally heavy in but much, much slower in pace, “Bereft” is a seven minute tribute to Greg Mackintosh and Hamish Glencross’ main bands (see Paradise Lost & My Dying Bride), while “Instinct Slaughter” looks towards Napalm Death for inspiration.
Groove and melody characterise the Celtic Frost-influenced monster “Odious Bliss” and while the tempo is once again raised on “Savages Arise”, the follow-up “Aghast” finds the band once again delivering a seminar in slow-paced heavy-sounding Doom Death.
The epic intro and opening riff of the doom-laden “The Wolves Of Sin” is one of the highlights of this album and creates an interesting contrast with the fast-paced Punk riffs of “Cattle”.
The latter section of the album includes another Celtic Frost influenced anthem entitled “Dragged To Gehenna” but concludes with a duet of rhythmically varied compositions, namely, “Thirst Of Extinction” and “Splinters”.
With Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride still in pretty rude health, there was always a fear on my part that Vallenfyre would be nothing more than a one-off side project so I was pleased when I found “Splinters” waiting for my review.
Many careful spins later I am pleased to report that the quality, honesty and sheer passion which informed the band’s debut are also alive here and that Vallenfyre’s second studio album is one that deserves your attention.
Only death is real!
John Stefanis
Rating: **** (4.0/5.0)
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
