BY: Chris Horton (Regional badass)
Let me preface this by saying that while I am a fan of the band, I am being completely unbiased.
Although I have been waiting for this shit to drop. Kudos to whomever came up with the title as well.
That being said, this is one hell of an effort from Pridemeat. Many of these songs, I’ve heard live or on demos, but to hear them fully produced, really changes the dynamics. Sadly this album is a goodbye to their extremely talented drummer Josh. But man, what a way to go out.
As a producer myself, I think about how hard it would be to capture a band like Pridemeat. I mean, the album breaks into literal chaos at several points, but then pulls you back to the groove. Nick and Gurt’s twin tuned down guitars are refreshing to hear used in a way that doesn’t involve poly-rhythmic nonsense using only the top string. * Editors note: we all know the word for this genre of music, but I wont say it. because its a dirty word. The “d” word.
They are accomplished players that use a lot of classic metal licks, and harmonies. There is plenty of melody in the chaos, and well thought out chord progressions, Not to mention, well placed lead work. William holds down the low end on bass with precision, and groove. No cheesy synths, or songs about outer space. This is fucking METAL.
The whole album is relentless. Blast beats, grooves, death metal influences, metalcore, doom. It never lets up, and remains diverse. They cover all the bases of heaviness. There’s something in this album for just about any extreme metal fan, whether you have been a metal head for 20 years, or you just got into the scene. While Pridemeat still sounds fresh, it also bridges the gap with a plethora of stylistic choices that harkens back to Exodus and Iron Maiden (especially some of the guitar harmonies). This album could’ve came out yesterday, or 20 years ago. That really says something. It says that their style is timeless.
There are some stand out tracks though, for me.
“Wall of Souls” and “The Greatest Empire” really stick out to me. You can tell these are fully realized songs, that have great well-thought out riffs with a lot of emotion behind them. “The Greatest Empire” also has a breakdown at the end, that made me want to go out and break some shit. I didn’t. But I almost did.
“By the Hand of The Dark King” is also a stand out track for me, and reminds me of some of my favorite metal songs. Literally every part of the song is awesome, and has what I think is the “star” guitar solo of the album. The melody is so emotional for a song that obviously prides itself on being heavy/brutal as fuck. Dare I say…it sounds very tasteful.
Tony has proven to be a versatile vocalist, and has a rather diverse range. We hear everything from screeches, to all out hardcore growl. Never really getting into full guttural territory. The fact that he switches it up constantly,keeps the tracks flowing and interesting throughout the album. There are no vocal effects or distortion to make his voice sound grittier. He pulls this off live, and in the studio. Each song tells a story, and if you know how to listen to metal, you can get most of the lyrics.
But….
I’m not here to kiss anyone’s ass, and with that being said…
While the production value is pretty high for a local band (David Cooke really went above and beyond with this one). I cant help but compare it to the the intensity of their live show. That intensity seems to be replaced with focus. Being a producer myself, you usually get one or the other on a recording…raw intensity or precise focus. Pridemeat seems to have chosen the latter. This is a minor complaint. So just know that if you hear the album, it is much more intense when preformed live.
Pridemeat has their own style, without a doubt. But I also cant think of Pridemeat without thinking of Cradle of Filth’s first few albums. A lot of that has to do with Tony’s vocal style. While he has come into his own and has gained respect for his abilities, its obvious where a lot of his influence lies. Some of the riffs delve into the same territory as well. But being a huge fan of the “Scourge of England”, I might be reading too much into it. * Editors note: I literally worshiped C.O.F in high school. Nerd. But I also hear Job For A Cowboy, Cattle Decapitation, and many other influences too. None of this is a bad thing. Just observation. Hell, I played it for a buddy of mine and he immediately mentioned ZAO. It’s all subjective.
With all of that being said, I absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next from Pridemeat. I know this album was a long time coming, and they have played shows tirelessly to get their name out there. The hard work has paid off, as they have made an excellent album, and earned a reputation locally that makes me smile every time I’m out and mention them to peers. Most people agree, that they are on the forefront of the “newish” Savannah metal scene.
I personally cannot wait to see what they conjure up from the abyss as a follow-up to “Wet Hot American Slaughter”. I look forward to seeing them progress as a band, and continue to scare the shit out of unassuming passerbys. You can get the album in the link below.
Tony, Gurt, Nick…..I want a fucking t-shirt BTW. Just saying….:)
GO GET THIS SHIT RIGHT NOW OR YOU SUCK:
http://pridemeat.bandcamp.com/album/wet-hot-american-slaughter
This City Is Haunted 