You know, writing reviews can sometimes be difficult, especially when you write about a band you’ve already written about in the past. Because, unless they completely change their style, you run the risk of repeating yourself and the more I think about it, the less I think that it’s necessarily a bad thing. Since there are only so many words in the English language to describe a good thing, without using unnecessarily pompous words, I’d argue that it means that the band has found their comfort zone and sticks to it. A good example for this is today’s album: The Ash That Shall Remain by local hardcore heroes Blanket Hill.
The previous record had already improved on all the critique that I had towards the one before that and while the opening paragraph might make you think that the band stagnated, that is absolutely not the case. First off, the quintet has recruited a new full time drummer, who brings a slightly different approach to the table that I would call more hardcore-orientated than before; focussing less on complexity and speed, but therefore more on groove and good ole heaviness.
Secondly, the “new” (on the previous record) guitarist now also took up backup vocals that deliver a nice contrast to the main vocals by covering the spectrum of growls and higher pitched screams. A good example of this dynamic can be heard below in the, dare I say, instant classic Let The Hammer Swing.
Just as on The Courage Of Hopelesness, the guitar work is just this delicious riff soup that will satiate every type of lover of the six strings. There’s classic open note chugging to bang your head to; then you have your much more technical riffs that are bordering on feeling out of place at times, yet the band manages to tie them perfectly into the music; and last but not least there are some, for lack of a better word, melancholic riffs that would feel right at home in a black metal song.
The main vocals have remained mostly the same, with the go-to vocal style being the Sprechgesang, but also featuring a bit more melodic lines than previously. However, this time around the band has quite a few features in tow: the Luxembourgish rapper Marone, Mike Rodrigues of local heavy-hitters Deathlane, Matt Howson of UK-based Overpower and Masa of the Japanese View From The Soyuz. While they would not have been necessary to spruce up these thirty-nine minutes, they are a very nice addition. Oh, and the final track holds another surprise that I won’t spoil in this review.
It’s also worth noting that the band has yet again self-recorded these eleven songs and that the sound ticks all the boxes that I wish for in a heavy record: massive drums that don’t sound over-produced, biting guitars and vocals that are very present but not overwhelmingly in the foreground. More of this, please!
In closing, while Blanket Hill has not reinvented themselves on The Ash That Shall Remain, which was not necessary in the first place, the record is another very solid entry into their catalogue and whether you are into (classic) hardcore or not, I would absolutely recommend giving this one a listen because it covers a very broad spectrum. The album will be out this Friday, September 27th, accompanied by a release show at Rockhal and you can find more information on the band’s Facebook page.