aaamusic | On 16, Aug 2011

British Metal is going through something of a commercial purple patch at present. Bands that trade in riffs, screams and wee-widdly-woo guitar solos have a following in their home country and across the pond not seen since the 80’s but in terms of critical appreciation very little has changed. Heavy Metal has never, ever been cool and this is especially true today, if one was to go by reviews alone this new breed of Heavy Metal would be characterised by a bunch of impossibly calculating mini Simon Cowell’s with even worse hair making an embarrassment of cash out of insecure teenagers looking for role models and inspiration in a world of insipid “Celebrity”. Of course this is mostly bullshit but sometimes bands can jump out of nowhere with songs so box-tickingly formulaic that the cynic in everyone is inclined to agree. On that note, here’s London based haircut merchants Rise To Remain.

 

Now it’s common knowledge that Rise To Remain singer Austin Dickenson shares more than a second name with a certain Iron Maiden frontman, and because of that they’ve had to whether more than a few accusations of nepotism. I disagree, simply because that Power Through Fear is the lab grown synthesis of roughly ten years of the new wave of British post-hardcore and metal. It sounds designed to appeal to every kind of rock fan. There’s riffs for the meatheads, growled nonsense about demons and “self righteous tears” for those that like their corporate gruel to come with a side order of “meaningful lyrics” , a cringe inducing wannabe-Lostprophets chorus for the tweens and absolutely no soul, style or class, just as everyone who’d buy this tripe would like. This is corporate Rock. This is X Factor Metal. Whatever you want to call it, Rise To Remains label know this is going to be fucking HUGE.

 

Author: Will Howard