Review Summary: From the emerging ‘trance metal’ scene comes English bred Silent Descent.
Trance metal may not even be fully recognized as a genre yet but there are those pushing the new genre tag forward. Names such as ‘Timecry’ and ‘Blood Stained Child’ are also gaining the attention of the metal community. While Silent Descent is not alone in this musical quest they are turning some heads with their fairly innovative and unique sound styling. Silent Descent are not breaking any new ground with their music, they are rather bending boarders adding their own flair to the debut record. This English six-piece incorporate some synth heavy riffs, combined with some diverse vocal patterns and melodic leads over the length of the album (see ‘I Can. I Will.’).
Duplicity receives its positive attributes in the form of its overall diversity. This can be seen throughout and is easily noticed in album opener ‘Anagram’. Anagram combines the bands creative recipe on a high level and draws the listener into its soft introduction, before hitting them with those before mentioned synth filled riff lines. Straight away listeners notice the fresh and somewhat rare sound they are being presented with. With this recipe alone Silent Descent are sure to attract a devoted group of followers over the course of their career.
The album has a lot of features going on and there is a lot to listen to. On a first play listeners will notice greatly the synth inspired passages and the interesting vocal ranges. On a repeated play listeners will look further and grasp more of what is happening behind the more noticeable. This includes the intricate melody lines and solo patterns and the not overused double bass patterns. The instrumentation is used in a very tasteful and creative manner. From the guitars to vocals (which range from clean sung soft chorus lines to deep guttural growls) to bass lines (however on the back of the record and needs to be actively searched for) listeners will be enveloped in this interesting debut album.
However an album can only be as good as its whole and while it has a high level of diversity in the metal scene it is its overall diversity on the album that lets the record down. After a while each track begins to sound like the next as each song has the same basic recipe. Track to track there is little to no level of contrast shown on this album, even with breakdowns with the synth coverings found in track ‘Living In False Eternity’.
One of the albums highlights and well deservedly is the title track. It’s clear that the band wanted to make a statement with this track. The almost innovative style is used throughout with some changes to keep the listener interested. The same basic formula is still used here but is thankfully displayed in a more positive manner that benefits those listening. The use of an acoustic bridge is particularly great and shows the bands creative ability and overall song writing talent.
Silent Descent has released a commendable debut album adding features to an already crowded metal scene. However this is no ordinary metalcore release, this is a great display of an emerging sub-genre that presents the listener with something new and more or less innovative. Based on this debut effort Silent Descent will be a name known a little more widespread in the future.
