DIE NO MORE

Die No More are a four-piece band from Penrith, Cumbria who were formed in 2011 and initially went by the name of Dynamo. Described on the blurb as offering a fresh take of modern, traditional and thrash metal, 'Blueprint' is their debut EP, and it is actually pretty good, but there is one huge problem. In fact, it is so obvious that the band members might as well have it tattooed on their foreheads. Rather than rename themselves Die No More, they should have called themselves 'Metallicker' or something very similar because they worship 'Black Album’ era Metallica just a little bit too much. Lead guitarist Kev Smith riffs and solos like a young Kirk Hammett and, to be fair, there is nothing wrong with doing that, but when you put it together with the singing of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Marc Farquhar who so badly wants to be James Hetfield (and actually comes very close to succeeding) then Die No More's sound becomes a millstone around their collective necks. Opener 'Conscious Indecision' is actually the least Metallica sounding although not by much. It also manages to turn into Gun's cover version of 'Word Up' near the end but, once that's out of the way, 'Council Of War', 'Nightmares' and 'Oblivious' could easily be described as songs that didn't quite make the grade and were therefore left off of the original Black Album. This is a terrible shame because Die No More do have a lot going for them. Songs are heavy and melodic with enough groove to have your feet tapping at a good pace, the rhythm section of bassist Andy Minnett and drummer Steve Orchiton is tight but fluid and the production and mix is very nicely handled but, until they find their own identity, Die No More will be labelled as nothing more than Metallica clones. The 'Blueprint' has to be altered!

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Self-released

EP

BLUEPRINT

Review by Rick Tilley

RUNNING TIME:

17:00

RELEASE DATE:

9th Sept 2013

TRACK LISTING

1) Conscious Indecision
2) Council of War
3) Nightmares
4) Oblivious

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

UK

"...until they find their own identity, Die No More will be labelled as nothing more than Metallica clones. The 'Blueprint' has to be altered!"