Each week I am going to write a short (under 200 word) review for an album from my collection chosen at random by iTunes. You can expect anything from Slayer to Salmonella Dub to (Ravi) Shankar and that is all part of the fun. Enjoy.
Week 14: Kerretta – Vilayer
Country: New Zealand / Rock, Post-Rock, Instrumental
What Kerretta lack in a vocalist they make up for in hard-edged grooves and clean burning metal riffs. For a band to be entirely instrumental they must be assured of the power of their music, letting it stand on its own without vocal accompaniment. While many bands in this position choose the road of drawn-out guitar dirges Kerretta are aiming for something more musical. It isn’t all aggressive rocking though, mood appears to be the key focus. On songs like the angular ‘The Square Outside’ a singer would only detract from the fireworks and oddly lyrical guitar leads. Elsewhere such as the subterranean jam ‘Bone Amber Reigns’ a Native American ballad smoulders and ignites into a post-metal inferno, closing out the album a haze punishing feedback. Kerratta are simply masters of tasteful, hooky instrumental rock and Vilayer is all the proof you will ever need of that.
Rating: B+
For Fans of: Tool, Dub Trio, Isis
No comments:
Post a Comment