Review Summary: Pushing the limits of what melodic death metal is capable of, In Dread Response create an album that showcases the increasing songwriting strength of an up-and-coming band.
When it comes to melodic death metal, a listener can generally expect the usual elements: atmosphere, dramatic lyrics, dynamic guitar tones, and all other defining features that categorize the genre. Like other groupings, the melo-death classification is just as guilty when it comes to a lack of innovation--some bands go outside the box, and others are comfortable inside of it. While bands such as Insomnium and Soilwork have found success by going outside their regular comfort zones, different bands have seen similar results by taking the typical melo-death formula and polishing it.
With Heaveshore, In Dread Response aren’t looking to shake things up; the melodic death metal group from New Zealand found their sound on their debut record, From the Oceanic Graves, and they have since stuck with it. In Dread Response are known for moving their songs along at blisteringly fast speeds with strong guitar melodies dominating the song, shredding away melodic riffs one after the other in a thrash metal fashion. This style faltered on the band’s previous release, Embers in the Spiritless Void. However, four years after that disc, In Dread Response have returned reinvigorated; the energy has been set to max, and all of the songs sound much more powerful than they did on Embers. The band has taken what worked for them on Oceanic Graves and perfected it. The end product is a melodic death metal goliath that towers above its counterparts, and any genre fan would be unwise to pass it up.
After the short intro “Divination”, In Dread Response lash out with album opener “Earthen Bonds”. Clocking in at just over 3 minutes, “Earthen Bonds” sets the mood for the upcoming tracks with its high-speed guitar work and definitely engages the listener from the very beginning. From there on out, IDR keep you locked in tight and hold your attention with interesting melodies; the songs distinguish themselves, keeping you involved every moment of the album.
The band truly runs the gamut of what their sound is capable of, producing both speedy, in-your-face tracks such as aforementioned opener “Earthen Bonds”, and slower tracks such as “Coma” that focus more on a slower tempo melody. Similar to their previous discs, In Dread Response don’t shy away from crafting long songs; out of the ten-track album, three songs clock in above seven minutes. This includes the title track “Heavenshore”, one of the more beautiful and progressive tracks that the band has in their arsenal. Slowly moving along a nearly 8-minute timespan, “Heavenshore” features an instrumental lead up to a dramatic crash of mournful melody combined with some symphonic elements in the background. Album closer “Weight” combines the band’s expertise at both slow and fast tempos, spending the first half of its 8 minute length rocketing away and later slowing down to an intense conclusion.
The instrumental work on this album is top-notch, displaying some of the best melodic guitar work of the genre at all sorts of different tempos. Guitarists Trajan Schwencke and Will Cleverdon make each riff as interesting as the next, and the songs fail to blend together. The fierce, vigorous drumming adds more power to each song, shifting from fast-paced blasting to march-like drumming in “Heavenshore”. Vocalist Ben Read particularly shines on this record, giving one of the most energetic and commanding vocal performances on a metal record. On songs such as “1777”, it sounds as though he is completely unchained and showcases an amazing range of screams and growls. On tunes such as “Heart of Stone / Heart of Glass” and “Weight”, the band’s strongest talents come together in an amazing blend of dominating guitar melodies, aggressive supporting drums, and solid vocals above it all. The New Zealand gentlemen seem more so at their best when flying through the fast lane--just listen to the guitars and the solo on “Heart of Stone / Heart of Glass”--but have showcased on Heavenshore that they can pull of slower tracks just as well.
Heavenshore is the sound of a band that has given all their emotional might to make a product as perfect as possible. After listening to the full 50 minutes of the album, it’s clear that In Dread Response have successfully sharpened their already enthusiastic sound from Oceanic Graves. The new album shows that the group is maturing and quietly building a name for themselves, taking melody, speed, atmosphere, and rolling it together into a gigantic force of death metal. A testament to the ever-increasing skill of an upcoming band, Heavenshore is a modern melodic death metal work of art, comparable to contemporary triumphs such as Bloodshot Dawn’s self-titled debut and the critically acclaimed Living Infinite by Soilwork. Filled to the brim with exciting melodies and emotional delivery, Heavenshore is a treat every listen and fails to grow old. In Dread Response have earned a spot in the melodic death metal world and continue to evolve and reinforce their incredible sound.
