WHEN GIANTS COLLIDE

Incisive Meshuggah-style polyrhythms, a scattering of groove, and down-tuned, bone-shaking metal aggression just about sums up this debut EP from the Bradford-based quintet When Giants Collide. While offering very little in terms of originality, they compensate for stylistic pastiche through a near-flawless execution of their material. The production and mix, while neither's perfect, are certainly acceptable and add weight to the band's sonically barbaric aesthetic. While they perhaps overplay the polyrhythm card on occasion, the evident Meshuggah influence is interposed with some variance throughout with occasional guitar driven melodies and lead parts, notably on EP closer 'Swansong'. However, the core of When Giants Collide's sound is formed by palm-muted guitars layered over polyrhythmic drums/bass that is never more effective than on second track 'Codename: 47' which is akin to blasting your ears with a few rounds of machine gun ammunition; impressively tight in execution and rather exhilarating through its technical precision. While the death growls of frontman Scott are extremely effective and with the right amount of aggressive bite, it would've perhaps been to the material's advantage if they'd been diversified on occasion, particularly when a little variance is introduced into the songs themselves. '...No One is Safe' ultimately suffers from being a little monophonic in this sense but, otherwise, is quite an exciting listen and the EP is a promising start to the career of this talented bunch of Yorkshiremen.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Self-released

EP

NO ONE IS SAFE

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

20:40

RELEASE DATE:

27th Feb 2012

TRACK LISTING

1) Wasteland
2) Codename: 47
3) Defcon
4) Balboa
5) Swansong

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

UK

"Incisive Meshuggah-style polyrhythms, a scattering of groove, and down-tuned, bone-shaking metal aggression..."