Igneous Human Pyroclastic Storms
by Alissa Ordabai
Staff Writer
Epic harmonies, indelible instant-grip hooks, and grooves taking you out of the mundane reality like a shot, is all that’s required of a truly great metal band. And on their debut album Igneous Human show they have mastered all three of those things – never rigid, never stiff, never centered around one single formula. Listening to how effortlessly they use groove, doom, death and good old hard rock to create their own universe with its own distinct atmosphere, you realise that apart from pure inspiration it’s also the band’s eclectic method which is responsible for making Pyroclastic Storms such a knockout release.
Standout “Quake” has it all – the grand-scale intro, the instantly memorable hook, and the space-rocking groove which carries the song through rhythmic and harmonic changes with propulsive conviction. The best thing about this track though is that despite the epic feel, here is one tune you can put in your pocket and carry with you – the main feature of any great song and something that no technology can beat or replace. The light and breathy guitar solo is the icing on the proverbial cake, borrowing from the 80s guitar hero tradition with unabashed confidence and aplomb – another reminder of the band’s diverse pedigree and a proof of their open-minded approach to metal.
Depth, stylistic and emotional amplitude of the band’s songwriting, their instinctive understanding of harmonic contrasts and melodic drama, as well as an ability to create a believable, multi-layered atmosphere, is what Igneous Human are doing with confidence of seasoned veterans. But above all it’s that taste of a real thing you get from them which makes this band stand out among legions of other newcomers to the metal scene. Here we are dealing with real musicians engaged in real creative search, and being able to preserve this searching quality is what will ultimately make or break this act on their way to the big league. The industry can’t be blind to such an obvious talent, so the next time you read about Igneous Human they will hopefully be getting the best newcomer award from one of those glitzy industry mags.
Genre: Death Metal
Band:
Andreas Joelsson – vox
Ewo Solvelius – guitar
Daniel Persson – guitar
John Thorner – drums
Mikael Gustavsson – bass
Track Listing:
1. Birth
2. You Better Be Dead
3. Quake
4. Redemption
5. Mute
6. Pyroclastic Storms
7. Deceived
8. Demonride
9. Hate
10. Tears
Label: Tractor Productions Black Label
Website: www.igneoushuman.com ; www.myspace.com/igneoushuman
Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10