Once again I was introduced to a new band. Broken Fate hail from Switzerland. After their formation in 2007 they've released a couple of demos and this EP, which is their latest offering to date. The band didn't choose the inferior road for their journey, but entered a studio with V.O. Pulver (Gurd, ex-Poltergeist) to record this, to achieve a heavy and hitting yet well-balanced production, where all the elements are nicely at hand and sound meaty.

Beginning with an instrumental intro reminding of Kreator's oppressive and melancholic yet epic melodiousness. The first proper song 'Your Night' mixes thrash metal (similarities with Metallica and Paradox, for example) with some heavy metal melodies and heavy rock (e.g. Poisonblack and Alabama Thunderpussy). The band are able to move rather well between these styles, so it does not sound like it was a total hodgepodge. Even though BF brand themselves as a modern metal band, they stay out of metalcore, except for some vocals parts. I don't find this to be modern, but mixing old, tried things. Broken Fate's alloy is heavy, organic and robust. When the band get into the thrash metal mode, so to speak, the riffs can be sharp-ish and on the rock mode they can be very groovy. It definitely has its Overkill and especially Gurd (one of Switzerland's most well-known groove/thrash metal acts) moments, too.

Whereas 'Your Night' has a positive energy aura to it, 'The Way in Your Eyes' is more serious. The song is thrashier, and therefore at times, faster. The melodic guitar work and hollering "ooh-ooooooh" vocals give the song a nice ending. 'Eternal Memories' hark towards latter era Exodus with its firm, ballsy riffing. Some blast beating together with determined guitars (whether it's about heavy or thrashing or melodic or ripping solos and everything between) and quite varying structure makes it an interesting song. It manages to convince despite its 7-minute duration, and actually feels much shorter. Definitely the toughest track here.

'Fate' shows a different side of BF; it's a sentimental "ballad". Well, it's about their music and souls, so I think it fits into that category. A lot of acoustic/non-distorted guitars are emotional, as are the vocals, but not in a sugary way. It's big men getting a bit emotional, hehe. I like it how the vocals are quite close to W.A.S.P.'s Blackie Lawless; filled with soul and feeling, and with similar rasp, and far from being powerless. More about vocals a bit later. 'Frozen' is another instrumental, a rocking thrasher. It could have included vocals, but certainly it does not need them, as it is made to be a song to stick in a brain.

Most of the vocals are throaty shouting and bellowing, and quite powerful at best. There's some change in notes, but it's not any kind of capable singing, no. The second vocals are metalcore style throat screech (I presume it is V.O. Pulver doing them). The vocals diminish the catchiness for sure, but on the other hand, also fit in well enough, giving it all some integrity.

Broken Fate have released a rocking and thrashing EP with some memorable songs and moods abound. It's quite diversified, but does not fall on its face at any point. It has its minor faults, but nothing the band could not overcome. It affirmed me to keep checking out the band's doings in the future. Plus, it's that tasty, that it's not just a temporary thing to be spinning here and soon forgotten.

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
12/16/2013 20:35