SLUMBER RECON

Rain Delay are an experimental and very interesting metal band from Serbia whose third album has been released some months ago. This was my first experience with them, but surely the first of more to come, because despite it has some death vocals and elements that I normally would not enjoy, they caught my attention and made me like what I heard. The name of this new child is "Slumber Recon", an album divided in eight compositions that make a total time of 36 minutes, it is short actually, but strong, crazy and experimentally good.

It opens with "The Medina Division has Ceased to Exist" which has a powerful sound since the very first seconds, with growling vocals (which I don't particularly like, but accept) and then with "normal" male and female vocals being intercalated and complemented. I have to say that I like both voices, which is always a crucial point in a metal band. Later the song slows down and a kind of soft bluesy guitar solo appears along with mellow female voice. So now the song has completely morphed and lost its heavy and powerful sound, which however it is still present in some way.

"Falling Asleep in Real Time" starts with a calm and charming sound for the first minute. And then an explosion of rage arrives with powerful guitars and voices. What I like here is that in a single and relatively short song they managed to create different atmospheres and emotional states, but without harming the sound at all, I mean despite in a minute you seem to be listening to another song, it is still one of the passages of the same. The bass sound is great, along with the always precise and constant drums.

"Hummer Pierced through the Central Square" is a heavier track with death vocals almost all the time. Though this is not a song I really like, I must highlight the drums work along with the great guitar riff. On the other hand, "Veneto Slumber Recon" is my favorite track off the album, and also the longest one. It starts with acoustic guitars in a soft and slow way. After an introductory minute the electric strings and drums appear and begin to build up a structure. Here both, male and female vocals are excellent and perfectly work together, honestly I like them a lot (not the growl ones). The experimentation and creativity of the band can be truly appreciated in this track. The final minutes are pretty good, with vocals in English and other language that I don't recognize.

"Selena" is another favorite of mine. Here the rhythm may be catchier and gentler, it actually sounds at first like an ordinary alternative rock track, but well, I really like it. The vocals sound now charming and tranquilizing. After a minute, electric guitars appear and greatly complement the song's feeling. Before the third minute a cool guitar solo appears but the rhythm prevails; the only hint of rage appears at 3:30 with death vocals.

"Shiseido" is the shortest track, and a very experimental one, with some odd time signatures and inner changes in time and tempo. The sound is once again heavier and powerful. Drums are a highlight again, and here the girl sings in Japanese. Now if we want another language, we just have to wait for "Par ti, San Marco" and listen to the Italian words. This song marks another change with a calm beginning with acoustic guitars. However, it little by little progresses and the rage gradually appears. I really love how they play with those mood and sound changes.

And the album finishes with "Nothing? (The March of Death)", which actually sounds like a goodbye due to its soft rhythm and emotional male vocals. Acoustic guitar and drums accompany the voice for the first two minutes, and then electronic strings appear along with death vocals. Seconds later there is a guitar solo that last for few time, and the song continues with the same structure, this time it does not have more changes.

I am happy with this album, the talent and experimental sound of the musicians is evident, and when I can bear with death vocals is because the album succeeded with me, like it happened this time. Kudos for Rain Delay!