Reviews / Album

Another stellar set of songs penned, performed and produced by Wagons and company. You’ve done it again, Henry!

Whereas Vadim has previously led with lyric and melody, Don’t Be Scared is all about the drums; exotic, heavy, percussive riddims that owe as much to traditional Eastern, African and South American music.

Sea Of Bright Lights extends the band’s earlier EP work and matures their sound, making this a solid debut from the almost-veterans of the shoegaze scene.

Extensive reconditioning and new spark plugs transmitting fresh inspiration are what’s required to make this motor run again.

The Haunted Man’s cover art has been generating almost as much hype as the record so it would be amis not to mention it; but hey, check that out in your own time.

A friend of this reviewer, who will openly admit to watching ‘music talent’ shows like The X Factor and The Voice, religiously found this album to be right up his alley, and there-in lies who this album should appeal too.

The screams of “It’s not the years in your life; it’s the life in your years”, sum up what Atlas, and Parkway Drive, represent perfectly.

Napalm is hard to put down, and it’s hot. Napalm isn’t, and it’s not.

Though Apocryphon isn’t a genre classic like Kyuss’ Welcome To Sky Valley and Monster Magnet’s Dopes To Infinity, it’s further proof that The Sword might have a quintessential album in them.

Grothe’s presence ensures some marketability, but flickers of real promise and a few genuine winners will ensure their tunes won’t merely be relegated to televised sporting montages and highlights packages.