MOLOTOV SOLUTION

What is it with labels slapped on bands? There seems to be new ones each day - this is described as ‘DeathCore’. I understand the label, I really do, but ironically I find it limiting for bands that promise so much more, Oceano being a case in point, a band I reviewed a couple of months ago. So, what about this Las Vegas band? They started their career as ‘GrindCore’ and, to my ears, still have some of that guttural bottom end roar. If I took their sound from the first few tracks I would have to say they are playing the generic card too close to their chest but just after half way the album seems to come alive with more inventive song-writing and my ears prick up. I think it’s a case of always wanting to put forward your aggressive simpler songs first to hook the listener. For me the stand-out track is the final one, ‘The Dawn of Ascendency’, starting with its menacing refrain and using space between the music to bring it alive - more of this sort of songwriting may help lift Molotov Solution to a higher level away from their peers. Known for their political lyrics you may miss some of the nuances of a well informed band (unless you have the lyric sheet in front of you) but again on the last track you can’t fail to be pulled along with the passion of vocalist Nick Arthur pleading "Wake up! Wake up!" Certainly it’s worth checking this band out and I’m sure there are some who will love this but more thought to the songwriting would lift this band higher in my opinion.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Metal Blade Records

Album

THE HARBINGER

Review by Paul Sims

RUNNING TIME:

41:46

RELEASE DATE:

8th June 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Warlords
2) Rule By Secrecy
3) Only the Dead
4) Atrum Inritus
5) Corpus Imperium
6) Monolithic Apparatus
7) The Harbinger
8) Enslaved
9) Awakening
10) Living Proof
11) The Dawn of Ascendency

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

"...half way the album seems to come alive with more inventive song-writing..."