Featuring a cover with a couple of alien beings immediately raised my interest towards this, Swedish band Souldrainer's sophomore full length album. Yeah, I can be easily pleased. Hastily inserting the CD with my hands shaking from excitement, the record started to play. Oh yes, this sounds like Hypocrisy! A lot like Hypocrisy...

Souldrainer operate in mid-paced territory, with faster 'Fed by Fire' as a sole exception. Think of Hypocrisy's mid-paced heaviness, say, from 'Abducted' (1996) to 'The Arrival' (2004), and you're quite far into how Souldrainer sound like. The other big influence is Samael style synthesizer work, meaning ample and boisterous mat-like approach. Especially those human(oid) choirs... 'Gate Guard' is a slight distinction on the album, sounding like The Kovenant and their 'Animatronic' era (1999) material. Every song here includes catchy bits and melodies, and groovy rhythms, but none of the songs elevate to the level of the best work from the aforementioned artists. However, bear in mind that every song is well above average in quality, but also quite simplistic as composition. One true vile part is that carnival-esque bit on otherwise strong 'Low'. And the grungy remix of 'Tools of Torture' (or whatever, a song with that title does not seem to appear in Souldrainer's past discography)...

The guitars are low-tuned, but still shredding at times. The guitar tone heavily reminds me of Hypocrisy during 'Catch 22' (2002). However, Souldrainer's guitar work is far simpler, not so nimble-fingered as those Swedish legends'. The bass is loud in the mix, adding a huge punch, but not hiding the drums, which are also striking but sound highly triggered. At best, the huge synth mats lift the atmosphere to epic portions. The vocals are able. Sometimes heavily reminding me of Hearse vocalist Johan Liiva (ex-Arch Enemy) and his pessimistic growl. There are multiple growling styles, otherwise intense throat vocals and close to clean ones to be heard. Yeah, those aliens.. They do feature in lyrics, together with topics such as killing, dying, anti-religious and warring.

Promoted as "the representation of the next breed of melodic death metal", I think that's simply too bold a statement. The reason is, that Souldrainer sound heavily as their biggest influences, Hypocrisy and Samael. Even so, the future is totally open for the band. I'd wish a tad more characteristic take on melodic death metal next time around. But hey, after all, Souldrainer do not sink into a swamp of crap In Flames clones! If you love Hypocrisy, you might want to give 'Heaven's Gate' a spin or two, because it is quite a firm base to thrust from.

Rating: 6½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/02/2012 19:47