GODSTICKS

A band whose previous albums have projected much promise. 1. "If I Don't Take It All" (3:25) (8.66667/10)

2. "Eliminate and Repair" (4:52) kind of a boring song vocally but contains some great instrumental play. (8.75/10)

3. "This Is My New Normal" (3:49) the songs are getting weaker, less fresh-feeling. (8.33333/10)

4. "Devotion Made to Offend" (4:12) something a little different but still never rises above (8.75/10)

5. "Silent Saw" (3:25) Decent. Great "rap-like" third minute. (8.75/10)

6. "Throne" (4:31) the first really good djenty music is spoiled by a less-than-stellar vocal. (8.666667/10)

7. "Don't Say a Word to Me" (5:03) interesting synth opening turns old heavy metal with the joinder of the guitars. I like the style of Darran's vocal here: long sustained notes in his upper register. Weird to hear such an "old-style" guitar solo in the fourth minute. (8.75/10)

8. "Mayhem" (3:44) nice complex djent beneath Darran's vocal. Musically the most proggie song on the album, unfortunately it loses a lot from its dull/forgettable vocal. (8.66667/10)

9. "Lying" (4:01) dialing it in? There feels like zero enthusiasm behind this song--from any of the musicians! (8.33333/10)

10. "Wake Up" (5:06) a couple of interesting ideas and melodies here but once again it fails to rise above the mundane "we've heard many songs like this before." (8.666667/10)

Total Time 42:08

The music shows little fresh ideas or progression in either technical or compositional skill. As a matter of fact, I call this a step backwards from the wonderful 2017 release, Faced With Rage.

C/three stars; fair music but not much here for the true prog lover to waste his or her time on.

Welsh band Godsticks released their sixth studio album titled 'This Is What a Winner Looks Like' in 2023, entirely recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios. The Darran Charles-led collective presents a great collection of ten new songs, as Godsticks expand their sound with what could be regarded as their heaviest release yet. The album kind of sounds like what The Pineapple Thief could have done had they filtered their sound through something like Porcupine Tree's 'The Incident', for example. The rambling riffs intertwine with the fantastic writing in a glorious manner, resulting in a heavy album that keeps the listener engaged and thrilled, topped by the very good vocals, perhaps some of the best to be found on a Godsticks album.

In trying to capture different aspects of where their music could take them, the band have incorporated some electronic elements that fit in perfectly with the heavier edge prevalent on the record. Melodically and lyrically the album is quite strong and coherent and surpasses previous attempts at becoming a heavy prog staple. Flowing naturally between songs, each one is a little journey in itself, telling a different story as part of a grander narrative focused on isolation, angst as well as "the crushing inability to escape from the void of live performance". This is finally an exciting heavy prog album with an alt rock edge that doesn't sound tedious or generic but fresh, exciting and muscular. Great step forward for a now-experienced band that has gone through some stylistic shifts in their career.

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.

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.

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.

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.

UK trio GODSTICKS has been around for more than a decade, initially starting out as a cover band back in 2006, and then from 2008 and onward focusing on creating and releasing their own original material. "Emergence" is their third and most recent studio album, self-released by the band in 2015.

Those who tend to enjoy progressive rock featuring elements from hard rock, metal and, arguably, grunge as well, should find Godsticks' 2015 album "Emergence" to be one that merits an inspection. Otherwise this is a band I'd recommend any fan of King's X to get familiar with. Godsticks may be different in overall sound and atmosphere, but they do have a rather similar approach, even if the ingredients may well be from a somewhat different source. "Emergence" is a quality album that warrants a check.

I remember when GODSTICKS were added to the site here and the buzz around that. I did pick up their debut album at the time which I thought was a good 3 star album. This is their second release and there's not a lot to pick between the two hence my 3 star rating here. In a way this recording feels like it's in no-man's land as it's not heavy despite the hints of it, neither is it too mellow, it's somewhere in between. By the way the band feel that their latest "Emergence" released in 2015 is finally the album where they found their sound. And it's heavy! I like the Alternative vibe on here which comes mostly from the vocals.

"Convergence" is the short intro track that is quite spacey. "Caught In A Bind" is a top three track for me and I like the heaviness early on with the crunchy guitar. It settles back as the vocals join in. Nice bass and drum work here. It becomes fuller with backing vocals until we get this short but enjoyable instrumental section then the vocals return. "The Envisage Conundrum" has this heavy, rumbling soundscape as the guitar plays over top. Vocals join in. A top three tune. "In A Way That Ended Me" has this piano intro before it turns fuller. I like the soaring guitar as well as how understated this song is. Vocals do arrive as well. "Benchmark" is another restrained vocal track and I enjoy the intricate instrumental work. "Submerged" has some energy to it as the vocals join in, but it settles into a mid-paced vocal track.

"A Brief Foray" is another mid-paced vocal track but perhaps more laid back than the earlier ones. "Disclosure" is a nervy attempt by the band in my opinion as we get piano melodies throughout. By the way they got rid of the keyboards on their next album. "Borderstomp Pt.1" has a heavy intro to it that I like as the vocals join in in this Alternative sounding piece. "Borderstomp Pt.2" has this restrained heaviness that I like with vocals. Nice guitar solo after 3 1/2 minutes and before 5 1/2 minutes. "Borderstomp Pt.3" is my final top three song and it's because of the heaviness, love the riffs. Soaring guitar after 4 1/2 minutes when the vocals have stopped. The guitar goes on and on, so good! "Raised Concerns" opens with acoustic guitar as the reserved vocals join in. It's a little fuller after 1 1/2 minutes. Then we get a nice piano interlude before 3 minutes and vocals are back a minute later. Some violin late.

Another good one from this band but they really did find their sound with the latest "Emergence".

Hailing from South Wales, Godsticks are Darran Charles (vocals/guitar/keys), Steve Roberts (drums/keys), and Dan Nelson (bass). Despite their 'progressive' tag, they are much more than that, ranging even towards that grungy hard rock and metal sound reminiscent of great rock bands from the 90's and 00's like Soundgarden and Alice In Chains. This is easily evidenced in the opening track 'Below the Belt,' with those deep, chuggy chords in the verse that hit you below the belt, and with a bridge section similar to older Riverside material. But just because 'Emergence' contains such a deep sound doesn't mean it is universally low. 'All That Remains' is by far the softest song on this album, containing acoustic guitars, subdued drum beats, orchestral instruments, and even guest vocalist Kaysha Louvain. The lighter feel is inserted directly into the middle of this album, the perfect interlude for the second half of this aggressive album.

The keyboards in this album are so subtle, they almost go unnoticed. Contributed by Darran and Steve, there are plenty of moments where lighter and higher tones pass through the headphones, standing out from the low sound of the album if your listening for it. Take the intro to 'Ruin,' where the keyboards are at their most apparent. Even with the arrangement, the listener can't help but focus on the high hat and snare of the drum set. Songs like 'Exit Stage Right' and the instrumental 'Leave Or Be Left' have beautiful moments with the keyboards complementing groovy bass lines, something I'd like to see more of with their next album. I feel the presence of the keyboards are the perfect palate cleanser, considering the album would be repetitively and consistently boring with its bassy atmosphere.

I love to hear Darran's chromatic voice dancing around the scales used in every song. His delivery is very unique, residing somewhere between mellow and energetic. Despite having a relatively narrow range, his low- to-mid register voice perfectly blends with the naturally deep sound of the album. The quick paced and deeper voice of 'One Percent' perfectly complements the lyrical content, focusing on that 'one percent' we've all heard of in the news. My only criticism with his vocal style is it seems Darran is trying to get too many words out with too little time. Perhaps fewer words or longer verses would solve the problem, but I nonetheless enjoy hearing him sing.

The orchestrations of 'Emergence' are weirdly complex, since it took me a few listens to realize how sophisticated the album really is. When at first I heard the continually rough and fuzzy rhythm guitar, I was later corrected when focusing on the individual components themselves. Darran's guitar style, although primarily rhythm-centric, are clearly more melodic than they lead on. Intricate fills and harmonies are incorporated throughout the album, especially in the choruses and pre-verses in the song 'Much Sinister.' The same goes with 'One Percent,' a song containing plenty of lead guitar overlapping a strong rhythm. Its catchy riffs and unforgettable outro make this song the most striking off the album, and is a song I always look forward to when playing this album. Much of the guitar on this album follows suit, with seemingly simple structures, that is, until you sit down and hear them. The drums, on the other hand, come across as complex as they sound (at least to me). There are so many powerful drum moments on 'Emergence,' but I especially love Steve's presence on the title track. Powerful, technical, and beautiful.

Album closer 'Lack of Scrutiny' is an interesting track, being one of the most non-Godsticks sounding songs on the album. With its eastern-influenced scales (a la Between The Buried And Me), the incorporation of horn instruments, and the drawn-out instrumental intro, the song is the most unique track on 'Emergence.' For an album that utilizes a similar formula for every track, 'Lack of Scrutiny' throws that comfortable feeling out the window. Because of the track's length (lasting nearly seven minutes), Godsticks takes advantage of the time to experiment as much as they wanted. The result is truly a gift, as the listener experiences the most dazing guitar rhythm, most prominent bass guitar, and soaring vocals on the album. What a great way to close off an album!

A solid performance, I urge everyone to purchase Godsticks' 'Emergence,' which will be available on September 4th.

Taken from Crash And Ride Music

UK trio GODSTICKS was formed back in 2006, initially as a cover band. They released their first EP with original material in 2008, followed by their full length debut album two years later. Come 2013, and they reappear with a new bassist in the shape of Dan Nelson, and their second album "The Envisage Conundrum". As with their previous productions this CD was self released by the band.

Accessible, melodic progressive rock is what the UK trio Godsticks provides on their second album. Dominated by carefully controlled, yet powerful melodic lead and backing vocals smoothing over an instrumental backdrop that is frequently more challenging and demanding than what you suspect first time around. A fairly intricate disc all in all, but with what one might describe as a mainstream sensibility to it. A creation to check out if accessible progressive rock with jazz-rock details and a firm emphasis on melodies and harmonies sounds like something you'd enjoy listening to.