FACED WITH RAGE

Nope, this is not a prog metal album actually! Superficially the first impressions are going to unveil that, due to some prominent crunchy guitar riffs immediately appearing. Anyhow, certainly here we have a heavy rock based album overall. And, while contrasting with the vast amount of genre typical recordings, one that appeals to me very much. Lyrically they explore the theme of people dealing with emotional conflicts in various scenarios. For the first time this features a four-piece line up. I wasn't aware of this Wales based band beforehand, thus went on a listen completely unbiased.

Hey, they sound like a well-practised dynamic unit, top-notch sound, nothing fails, even Darran Charles' singing voice is rather unique. Instrumentally both guitars are definitely dominating. And so on the other hand the keys are an encore which nicely will top this issue off, exemplarily to notice on the mellow We Are Leaving. Furthermore I managed to detect some real pearls like Hard To Face, or the tricky Everdrive as well as Fame And Silence, both provided with some crimson-esque leanings. Well, that makes the difference, or not? 'Faced With Rage' offers heavy progressive stuff with a rather unique standing. Maybe, though only in a wider sense, close to Tool, Portal, Karnivool or Phi from Austria. Worth a try.

One of the better collections of Prog Metal songs I've heard all year: tight, concise, well-composed and -performed with competent skill (though with all-too-little flash) and incredible clarity of sound (especially considering this is prog metal--a typically muddy and murky sub-genre of music). My main complaint is that the music is sometimes too conservative and too simplistic--soft around the edges--especially for djenty prog metal.

1. "Guilt" (4:31) musically a nice start, but then the singing, verses and horrible chord progression for the chorus enter into play. Some of the things going on within the music are interesting--until they get too repetitive and old. (8/10)

2. "Hard to Face" (6:10) "simple" prog metal or heavy metal--a song that would get a lot of play on XM/Sirius's Octane station. (9/10)

3. "Open Your Eyes" (5:04) nothing very new or exciting on this standard heavy prog song.(7.5/10)

4. "We Are Leaving" (6:49) opens like a delicate ANATHEMA song, drums and bass joining in during the second verse. The song then goes into KARNIVOOL realms with Ian Kenny-like vocal. It evens tells the sci-fi like story of leaving (the planet?) Things amp up (slightly) at 4:35 while never getting too crazy (or even crazy at all; it's very restrained). Pretty but nothing very special. (8.5/10)

5. "Angry Concern" (6:34) a little edgier, djentier sounding, despite some nice solos, the song never really develops into anything better than an ALICE IN CHAINS b-side. (8/10)

6. "Avenge" (3:56) solid but too straightforward with no unexpected moments, none of the nuance surprises that feed my soul. (8.5/10)

7. "Revere" (4:24) opens in a cool almost-rehearsal way before turning into a radio-friendly ALICE IN CHAINS/KLONE song. Still, the sounds, weaves, melodies, and vocals are all perfectly matched. This is a heavy pop song that I would request and replay. (9/10)

8. "Unforgivable" (5:56) Finally! some thick, heavy bass and guitar chord play. Nice subtlety touches within the music--with and without the singing. I just wish there were a few twists or turns--and a little more exciting soloing. Still, a top three song for me. (9/10)

9. "Everdrive" (8:02) A song that feels like a true prog metal song with its djenty staccato time signature changes and full-on band soundscape explorations. One of the few songs in which the music attracts my attention over the vocals. And they even take a few surprising turns along the way. More of this, please! (9.5/10)

10. "Fame and Silence" (5:03) almost feels a personalized take on LED ZEPPELIN's "Kashmir." Very nice lead guitar solo in the third minute. Gets a little more dense, heavy, and full toward the end, but still leaves me disappointed. This could be so much more! (8.5/10)

Four stars; a very good contribution of progressive rock music, one that is worth checking out by all prog lovers.

The latest album from welsh proggers Godsticks showed some changes in the band, as for the first time it sees them as a four-piece with drummer Tom Price, who replaces Steve Roberts (who had been in the band since 2010) and additional guitarist Gavin Bushell, which allows the band to be more aggressive and punchy than previously. They join Darran Charles (who also performed on The Pineapple Thief's 2016 hit album 'Your Wilderness' and is part of their live touring band) who provides vocals and guitar along with bassist Dan Nelson. Lyrically, 'Faced With Rage' explores the theme of people dealing with emotional conflict in different scenarios, and who have a powerful desire to change their behaviour or situation.

These guys are very much in the modern field of progressive rock, taking influences from Tool, Porcupine Tree, System of a Down, Radiohead and the aforementioned The Pineapple Thief and Bruce Soord. Actually, unless they're careful they might even find themselves becoming beloved of the mainstream media as they are far more angular and indie rocky than one would normally think of with a prog act. With their approach and layering wall of sound there are also times when they come across as a more vibrant and energised Muse, and when listening to this I often find myself having closed my eyes and am just moving to the beat, nto something one would normally expect from prog!

I know I am late to the piece, as the album has already been out six months, but I am incredibly glad that I have finally heard it, as it is well worth investigating by anyone who has ever bemoaned that too many prog acts sound like Genesis.

When I think Wales and music it's the trio of BUDGIE, PERERIN and this current band GODSTICKS that comes to mind even though there are others in my collection. Back in 2008 this band came out of nowhere with an EP that created a bit of a buzz on this site at the time. I didn't bite though but bought their first studio album from 2010 along with 2013's "The Envisage Conundrum". Both 3 star albums in my opinion and I lamented with other reviewers that they needed to get heavier. Well in 2015 they got heavier and the band announced they had found their sound with "Emergence". Not so fast as I still feel that's a 3 star record because they still had the other foot on their past. That changed here with "Faced With Rage" an absolute killer album that blows everything else they did in the past out of the water. Without question it has helped that band leader Darran Charles started playing with THE PINEAPPLE THIEF getting in the mind of Bruce Soord but also they replaced the drummer which I feel makes a big difference and added a second guitarist doing the same.

This is fresh and powerful with great vocals. Mostly mid tempo heavy tracks that are catchy with great lyrics as we get a theme throughout this album about "losing it". Man there's some headbangin' stuff on here and it's tough to pick a top three but I have to go with the two opening tracks that set the tone big time in "Guilt" and "Hard To Face". How about that crushing bass line to open "Angry Concern" a song that has to be in my top three except there's "Unforgivable" yet to arrive. Gotta love the heaviness of this album and the way they mix it up enough to keep me interested. A very solid 4 stars.