HARBOUR OF DEVILS

Reviewer Prog-Jester pointed out in his review of What the Blood Revealed's eponymous debut EP, the band is pretty average. Having listened to their first full length album, Harbour of Devils, I agree with the sentiment. There isn't too much to get excited about here unless you are an absolutely adamant fan of slightly crunchy droning.

I don't mean that to sound like an insult, but it kind of did. What I mean to say, is that the album is an exemplar of middle of the road post-rock/metal. If you've done any research into the genre you know that extended composition, fuzzy instrumentation, minor keys, walls of sound and maudlin emotion are genre hallmarks. The band treads no new ground, but plays well enough. If you've already found you have the temperament for this kind of music then you'll probably find Harbour of Devils to your taste.

If you are just getting into the genres, I can think of more offensive places to get started. However, in relation to the experimental/post-metal genre as specifically outlined here at PA, I personally recommend sticking to the experimental side. There is so much more vivacity and power in that experimentation that tends to drown in the wash, as is the case on Harbour of Devils.

In closing, it's good if you like or are interested in pure post-rock/metal. I'd say it's more than just a collector's album, so it probably warrants a three out of five. Just not a particularly enthusiastic three. If 2.5 were available it would be the perfectly average score for a perfectly average album.

Just a quick remark on the album artwork. It is excellent, but underutilized. It belies a dark dynamism that just isn't there.