Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
No matter which branch of the Metal enclave you try to put in Norwegian band Benea Reach into, in the end it doesn’t matter as they, like their fellow Nordic musician’s Amaranthe, are a new wave of Metal that justifies themselves by the way they reach their ever-growing fan base and not by the small boxes a lot of the bands find themselves placed within.
Whichever sub-section of Metal they find themselves placed in, whether it is Progressive Metal, Industrial or Extreme, one thing is certain the new album by the group, the sensational Possession, is Metal with attitude, a being spawned of a titanic nuclear explosion and melded together with the toughest bad-ass vocals since Martin Walkyier gave the fans of Sabbat and Skyclad a new reason to buy records.
The Norwegian outfit bring together the latest reasons to enjoy the Nordic Metal’s resurgence in a world that still is frustratingly geared towards manufactured singers put together for the television viewing executives pleasure rather than those who prefer their music live and wild. Whether it is Folk, Synth, great Popular Music, Jazz, Metal or Rock surely it is time to say to television, let proper hard working musicians have their time, not somebody who says I have always wanted to sing but then doesn’t put the time in the pubs and clubs, instant riches and success for the foolhardy and the television executives making money off their backs.
Benea Reach typify the angst in this, three albums down the line they are producing great quality music but unlike 30 years ago when The New Wave of British Heavy Metal ruled and near enough anyone could mention at least one band they had heard, no unless you specialise in the genre, it’s unlikely you would have heard of any of the tremendous bands making their way in the world. It is a shame for the likes of Benea Reach and Amaranthe and especially Benea Reach’s Ilkka Volume and his skills that have developed as lead vocalist. His twin approach has been described as music Bi-Polar, an ability to give deep seated and legible growls and near perfect highs which sound terrific throughout the album and which blend brilliantly with the musicians surrounding him. Songs such as Nocturnal, Crown, Fallen and Shedding Skin epitomize this approach and how good the music stands.
A well focused, energetic and brilliantly performed album of which there, if there is any justice, will bring this new wave more into the conscious of the music buyer.
Possession is released on Spinefarm Records on March 25th 2013.
Ian D. Hall