Orpheus are an Australian melodic death metal band. Earlier this year, they released their debut album, ‘Bleed The Way’. Thanks to Rockstar Records, I have been given a copy for review. I have not heard these guys before, but I have seen them popping up in my gig guide. According to their bio, they are only a young band with members averaging around 18 years old. Usually, I’d find being handed a CD by such young blokes questionable on the talent scale,
but since these guys all ready have a label, I am intrigued.
Neath (The Shadow Of The Monolith) – A blast of melodic death metal introduces us to this album. The pace is fairly fast and inviting. We are graced with searing guitars, vibrant bass, atmospheric keyboards, hammering drums and death vocals. The sound quality is excellent as all instruments can be evenly heard. The vocals are not always easy to decipher and with no lyrics to accompany the promotional CD I received, I can’t relay any to you. It is however, a great start to the album and introduction to the band themself. I can see why this band have been granted a label!
Winds Of Change – A guitar lead guides us in to this next song. The pace is quite fast and so much so, it keeps you on edge; much like keeping guard with a heightened sense of awareness. Even when the song tends to slow it’s merely your eyes focusing far into the distance searching for potential danger. As you become more aware of your surroundings you might find yourself releasing all your built up rage as you thrash out to this track.
Unscathed – Soon after the track fades in, you will once again find yourself unable to resist the music being sprayed upon you. This piece has a quirky keyboard sound to accompany the track and I must admit there is a nice amount of Scandinavian influence about this band. I wouldn’t go as far as to pitch them like their info pack states, “Australia’s answer to Children of Bodom, Dark Tranquility and In Flames”, but I would agree that you can hear such influence amidst the music. On a lot of levels, Orpheus are just as good.
Common Enemy – When you concentrate on all aspects of the music being presented, you can hear that this band really put an effort into their work as there are many intricacies. They are quite good with their leads but they are not intense. It is very easy to indulge in this track and completely lose yourself in every emotion it throws at you. This, of course, makes for brilliant moshpit activity.
Face Of Vengeance – There are such low tones within here, it rumbles at your stomach; much like the start up of a Harley. I should note that the vocals have that soothing death metal vocal sound as opposed to a raw or harsh sounding vocal. This track has an underlying groove you can easily indulge in. At times there are spurts when they just start hammering away. Orpheus create a good structure with their music so it’s not boring nor overkill. They’ve found a good balance and seem to know their metal and what sounds good and this surely does sound good.
Societies Of Steel – The keyboard takes on a more prominent role in the beginning of this track. The pace is more than lively and if you are not dripping sweat by this point in the album, you will be after this. The drums simply hammer away throughout proving this drummer has much stamina. The guitars tear through the melodies and continue to prove there truly is much talent within this band.
Sealed In fate – This next track is more aggressive overall. There are vocal parts consisting of a group yelling the chorus which creates a very heavy and more masculine edge to it all. Basically every aspect of this song has more grr to it than any other track thus far. This is definitely one to release your stress to.
For All It’s Worth – Here we have the longest track on the album at 05:58 and it starts out with an antique sound. As it comes back into our current time period, it soon blasts out some furious metal. The pace is enraged as it saws through your bones. There is a directional shift at 03:38 where the music slows up for a moment. You could take this as a moment to reflect on the carnage it is bestowing upon you, like seeing madmen slicing through you in slow motion as if you were hovering from above. But you’re swiftly back into your body, fighting through this insanity; thrashing about.
A Thousand Times – This next track is atmospheric and uplifting yet relaxing. It is not as fast paced as any of its predecessors, though it does hold a decent pace and a heaviness which tends to make up for that. It has a galloping tempo to it all so the listener is able to imagine horseback and fields. It is in fact very easy to lose yourself amidst the music throughout this album. I firmly believe when a band can tune into your emotions or imagination then they have done their job and these boys have done a very good job indeed.
Grin Of Madness – Here we have the final track on the album and also the shortest in length at 03:36. It is heavy, atmospheric, melodic and well paced. The chorus contains, “this is the end” so it is obviously well placed on the album. Even though it states it is the end, the listener is left feeling that it is not, thus leaving you wanting more; another good quality for bands.
In essence, Orpheus have created an excellent debut album and one which I am more than sure will secure their place in the metal realm. If you, like me, love Scandinavian metal, then you will certainly embrace this band into your collection. If you like bands like Hypocrisy and In Flames then yes, you must check out these guys! The CD I received is a promotional copy so I cannot comment on the packaging you would receive when purchased. This album is more of the type of album you would find from a band who has been at it for years, perfecting their style and sound until finally they come to this result. The fact that this band has done this on their very first album ever is absolutely awesome! It shows how much talent is in Orpheus and that over time it is going to either be downhill from here or just get better and better and raise the bar for all in this genre.
Do yourself a favour and check them out on the links below.
LINKS
Orpheus Website
Orpheus Facebook
Orpheus Myspace
Rockstar Records
Buy from CD Baby
Review by Déa di Morté © 05 September 2011
All pictures courtesy of Orpheus, Camille Braganca and Rockstar Records