lunes, abril 05, 2010

Surprises 2009: The Few Against Many - Sot



Band: The Few Against Many
Album: Sot (first album)
Genre: Death Metal / Melodic Death Metal
Country: Sweden

"Sot" was recorded in the mighty Panic-Room studios, together with production-oracle Tomas "Plec" Johansson and features lyrical contribution from Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquility) and Jonas Renkse (Katatonia, Bloodbath). Cover artwork was done by no other than acclaimed artist Dan Seagrave (Morbid Angel, Entombed, Dismember, Suffocation, etc)l!

The Few Against Many is the strange name of the "gothenburg-stars band" formed by Christian Älvestam (ex-Scar Symmetry among others) as vocals and rythm guitar, Patrik Gardberg (from the extinguished Divinefire) as lead guitar, Anders Edlund (from Angel Blake) as bassplayer, Pär Johansson (from the extinguished The Duskfall) as backing vocals and drummer Jani Stefanovic (Am I Blood, Divinefire, Miseration among others). Their music could be a mix between all the previous bands of the members, but with an even better result than most of their releases. The first time I played the cd I thought it would be another metalcore band for some reason (maybe that strange name?) but the blastbeat in the beginning of the album and those choirs and orchestral stuff that showed just for 2 seconds made me to think about a kind of progressive melodeath or something like that.
So yes, many songs have an orchestral touch, but it is very few and just serves to stand out in some concrete parts the riffs, as the ocasional and short boombastic choirs.
Alvestam is doing a great vocal job, and surprisingly he is not singing with clean voice in any moment.
Riffs and songs are catchy, with brutal moments and melodic as well. Keyboards are used ocasionally and production is great. A great pleasure for all the progressive melodeath fans.



http://www.myspace.com/thefewagainstmany

1. Hädanfärd / 02:30
2. Bränd Mark / 05:38
3. Blod / 04:02
4. Skapelsens Sorti / 03:00
5. Sot / 06:41
6. Abider / 03:22
7. Heresi / 04:35
8. One with the Shadow / 06:13

Total playing time 36:01

Here

The link provided serves just as promotional source. The aim is letting know rookie, new or unknown bands with few resources that try to expand their music. Buy the originals if you like them! Help good bands to grow!