In the world of Metal something that has always gone in tandem with the aggressive output of the genre is energy. More and more we find bands tinkering with songs until they seem to have their perfect formula and concentrate less on just having a life atmosphere. Thankfully a band like Ramming Speed have appeared to shatter the preconceptions of what people perceptions might be of various different genres all the while giving you a no holds barred thrill ride.
[tracklist]
1. No Forgiveness In Death
2. Choke Holds And Bullet Holes
3. Beasts Of Labor
4. Don’t Let This Stay Here
5. The Life We Choose
6. Walls
7. Break In The Chain
8. Truth To Power
9. Super Duty
10. Horns Of War
11. Momentary Masters
[/tracklist]
[details]
[length]34:00[/length]
[record_label]Prosthetic Records[/record_label]
[release_date]September 4th 2015[/release_date]
[/details]
Rocketing out “Don’t Let This Stay Here” sounds like a young adolescent version of our Iron Maiden’s Eddie. Combining various different genres the band are interesting to say the least. With the classic melodic pull off technique reminiscent of some of the 80’s greats the song has gusto. Yet afterwards we are greeted with the ferocious blasts of “The Life We Choose“, morphing from Death Metal onslaught to Blues boogie coupled with a section would have sounded fitting in cross over thrash.
Masters of melding all sorts of different genres together, riffing that flits between Hardcore and Thrash though the genres might change but what is constant throughout No Epitaphs is that inescapable sense of energy. The twin guitar harmonies of “Break In The Chain” act as a momentary respite nevertheless soon dispelled with the arrival of the breakneck riffing and that awesome groove.
Even grindcore gets thrown into the mix at one point on “Truth To Power” the two minute banger gets straight to the point acting as a vehicle to release the band’s pent up aggression it’s arguably one of the heaviest on the record. Though I must admit to never having heard a solo a well thought out performing at the blistering pace. “Walls” might open as the metaphorical kick in the teeth with the slippery slope of fast riffs until the harmonies take center stage before another blistering pentatonic solo section appears as were catapulted into a double bass ballistic.
The jackal like vocals work in tandem perfectly with the Southern style guitar lines take “Super Duty” for example, adding a different dimension to riffs that could otherwise be very one dimensional. Like a cat being declawed it makes for the music to be different yet easier to access than perhaps the more extreme of the Metal contingent. Though the highlight has tobe title track where we see the melting pot of genres coalesce for “Momentary Masters” containing some absolutely monumentally heavy sections before the drawn out feedback finish
This might not exactly make album of the year material but No Epitaphs is good old fashioned fun, brought up on a steady diet of Thrash, Death and Heavy Metal the band bring a sense of new found joy in the scene. Ramming Speed are a band that you would share a beer with. Embodying the rough around the edges of Punk and Hardcore with the airy tight precision of Death Metal and that all important groove make Ramming Speed prove that not all music has to be taken quite so seriously. Think of a ghoulish From Dusk Til Dawn wi an even better soundtrack .
[verdict]Yes[/verdict]
[why]No Epitaphs is an all out assault encompassing all the best elements of Metal itself. Played with contagious energy that will have you banging your head regardless of genre.[/why]
If you like what you read / heard then you can pick up the brand new album here!
