While She Sleeps might just be the UK’s fastest rising metal band. Their mini-album, 'The North Stands for Nothing', turned up out of what seemed like nowhere for most fans, but made one hell of an impression and, as such, 'This is the Six' arrives in the midst of heavy expectation.
Of course there will be some cynics that would suggest that While She Sleeps’ combination of metal and hardcore is just part of a stagnant scene, but clearly there is more to these Yorkshire lads than that. This is, by turns, some of the most powerful heavy music this country has produced in many a year. Not afraid to include melodic elements, such as frequent usage of the piano, into the mix, While She Sleeps have fully delivered on their promise of creating something pretty special here. Almost every track is guaranteed to be a winner in mosh pits everywhere they play and, more impressively, the hooks on this album are truly massive. The likes of the title track and 'Be(lie)ve' are so damn catchy they could spread around the London Underground quicker than a particularly nasty dose of flu.
Not that this album is lacking in the aggression and heaviness that the band have always produced. 'This is the Six' ramps everything up. The volume, the aggression, the melodies; everything is absolutely huge on this album. Opener 'Dead Behind the Eyes' is like being mauled by a hungry tiger, and 'Satisfied in Suffering' is such a groove fest that it sounds like the band tapping Lamb of God on the shoulder and telling them to get the hell out of the way. Even when the band place emphasis on the piano to carry the melody of 'Our Courage, Our Cancer', they still sound ultra-heavy.
This album isn’t perfect. Instrumental 'The Chapel' flies by without making much of an impact, and it is mouth-watering to think of what the band could have done with closer 'Reunite' if they had turned it into a true anthem of epic proportions rather than the coda that it is. Still, however, 'This is the Six' is one of the best things fans of heavy music with bite, and choruses, will hear all year. Get ready, because While She Sleeps really are ready to take over heavy metal.
'This is the Six' is out on Monday 13th August 2012 via Search and Destroy. While She Sleeps tour the UK in September and October. Check out a recent Stereoboard interview with the band here.
Wed September 26th 2012 - HMV Institute, Birmingham
Thu September 27th 2012 - Manchester Club Academy, Manchester
Fri September 28th 2012 - Corporation, Sheffield
Sat September 29th 2012 - Garage, Glasgow
Sun September 30th 2012 - O2 Academy Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Tue October 2nd 2012 - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
Wed October 3rd 2012 - Fleece, Bristol
Thu October 4th 2012 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Fri October 5th 2012 - Electric Ballroom, London
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Of course there will be some cynics that would suggest that While She Sleeps’ combination of metal and hardcore is just part of a stagnant scene, but clearly there is more to these Yorkshire lads than that. This is, by turns, some of the most powerful heavy music this country has produced in many a year. Not afraid to include melodic elements, such as frequent usage of the piano, into the mix, While She Sleeps have fully delivered on their promise of creating something pretty special here. Almost every track is guaranteed to be a winner in mosh pits everywhere they play and, more impressively, the hooks on this album are truly massive. The likes of the title track and 'Be(lie)ve' are so damn catchy they could spread around the London Underground quicker than a particularly nasty dose of flu.
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