While Killswitch Engage desperately tried to revive the ol’ metalcore corpse earlier this year, I have stumbled across a late 2015 release that just showed up in my mail box that deserves as much attention as Incarnate. And truthfully, I’m enjoying Justice is… a hell of a lot more than I did Incarnate.
Confidently straddling the line between metalcore and European melodic death metal , Dutch act Undawn (formerly known as Symphony of Destruction) will make most readers of this site curl their toes in rage. However, those that enjoy some catchy, dual vocalled, gang chant filled, energetic metalcore with a big production, big hooks and plenty of clean vocals will enjoy this under the radar number. In fact, The vocals of Michiel Brinkhuis, will be the sticking point for most. He has a sort of half shout/scream and some ok-ish clean croons. However, musically everything else is on point. I’d go so far as even saying, there is a few really good tracks on here.
First up, second track “What Justice Is?” , is down right killer. A big bouncy main riff, a melodic hook, yes, a breakdown, and a big brash chorus that even the most grizzled metal head would involuntarily tap his booted feet too. “A Bond of Brothers”, a more balladic number has a killer little segue and solo around 4 minutes in to close the track out in real style. Bjorn Strid of Soilwork helps out on “Never Giving Up” and adds his smooth voice to an already solid track.
A few missteps like the ballad “Forever” which is bit too cliched, and “closer “Puppets of Heresy” is a bit to rigid to the metal core paradigm ( do we really need another song with the infamous Howard Beale “I want you to get mad” quote?) could be a KSE song, so take that as you will. Still, a surprisingly little release in a genre that really needs the kiss of life right now. I’m not sure Undawn has it, but they are giving it a go.
