The Reckoning

Several favourable print and internet reviews have hailed Cinders Fall's EP 'The Reckoning' to be an impressive and an impactful release. I won't disagree with that, with this release this UK six piece has created a solid five track sampler of what is surely only a portent of considerably greater work to come (they're in the process of writing their first full length disc as of my writing this review). Melodeath fans would do well to give this disc a run with the caveat that whilst it is undeniably impressive for a band seemingly just starting out (they have released one prior EP) it is not quite in the league of being a band whose music one mistakes for being the early works of Swedish melodeath heavy-hitters In Flames (as one reviewer put it). The five tracks presented here are solidly written (lyrically as well as musically) and (to my ear) have an almost punkish/metal flavour to them; another reviewer compared them to early 'Burn My Eyes' era Machine Head but with a death vocal/melodeath-arrangement flavour (a reasonable comparison I think). At this stage of their development I'm more than happy to support Cinders Fall (I bought the CD but mp3 versions are significantly cheaper if you're seeking to save some coins) but would personally hope to see some more variation musically on their upcoming album. With a twin-guitar assault perhaps more upfront (in the mix) and intricate guitar work (this is the area in which the comparisons to Dark Tranquility and In Flames really do fail the acid test). Shifting dynamics are used reasonably well throughout this EP (but could be considerably more varied) and the lead vocals by Anthony Masters are delivered solidly if (once again) they are lacking some of the more expressive variation one would expect from a more experienced melodeath band (they are delivered in an almost punkish/aggressive way but still with the ever-present death-growl; having said that kudo's for not throwing in some clean vocals 'just for the sake of it' betwixt choruses).

If the negatives I've listed put you off then please don't be too discouraged. Cinders Fall, whilst not being in quite the league of talent that many established reviewers have enthusiastically suggested that they are do have considerable talent to offer the discerning metalhead listener. The consistency of their work on this EP does show a commitment to musicanship and development as a melodic death metal band (but I'd love to see them take more chances the way a band like In Flames did with albums like the knockout 'The Jester Race'). Whilst perhaps not the 'new hope' that they've been made out to be they are nontheless a solid impactful melodeath band with (one would hope) a bright future... sign me up.