CD REVIEW: ESCALANE – The Days Of Decay

Label: Inverse Records

Release Date: January 22, 2016

Rating: 8.5/10

Reviewed by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

Here’s a tagline I hadn’t seen before: Finnish pop metal.  The debut from this young Finnish band hits on a lot of cylinders and brings a twist on power pop that should garner some attention.  The disc starts off with “Waiting For The Sun” and the band comes at you with both barrels, as the guitars and bass fill the speakers with sound, as the drums keep time, and the vocals draw you in and keep you engaged.  This lighter metal sound is catchy and easy to absorb.  “Singularity” has a different melody and sound from the guitars, but as soon as the rhythm section kicks in, there is a cohesive feel between this and the other tracks on the disc.  The vocals from Hanna Uimonen are a cool hybrid that brings to mind different vocalists from different genres.  “Careless” opens with keyboards and drums, as the bass and guitars add depth to the songs melody.  Juha Takanen’s fret work is steady and solid, as the song builds through the verse and into the chorus and bridge.  “Reality” is a well-constructed track that wraps different components from the various tracks together and gives the disc a strong track, heavy on guitars and bottom end, while maintaining a pop sensibility.  “This Disgrace” allows the vocals and guitars to stand out, due to the steady rhythm section of Joonatan Jaakonaho on bass and Iiro Vuori on drums.  The chorus is anthemic and fun, giving the song a good balance.

“Fading In, Fading Out” is a different style track than some of the other songs on the disc, as it starts off slowly and lulls you into security before the guitars kick in during the verse and give the song a chugging rhythm that is accentuated by the bass and drums and a catchy chorus.  “Seven Months” gives Uimonen room to run, so to speak, with the vocals.  The chorus is full of keyboards and heavy handed bottom end while the vocals soar above the mix giving this song a little more texture than some of the other tracks.  “The Spiral” brings an electronic meets industrial flavor to the mix, and is swirls nicely with the lighter pop metal sound of the other songs.  The vocal brings the emotion from the lyrics to life.  “The Map” unfolds slowly and soon gets into a groove that creates a droning sound and feeling that lasts through the remainder of the track.  The vocals add to the droning sensation of the instruments, giving this track a different texture than the others on the collection.  Disc closer and title track “The Days Of Decay” opens with a riff that sounds like it was pulled directly from a Black Veil Brides track, while the vocals take on a different vibe.  The band is tight and heavier on this track, possibly an indication of the direction the group may head in the future.  The guitars, drums, and bass come alive at the bridge without exploding in sound, keeping the method and sound simple yet strong.

Tracklisting: Waiting For The Sun – Singularity – Fading In, Fading Out – Careless – Seven Months – Reality – The Spiral – This Disgrace – The Map – The Days Of Decay

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Category: CD Reviews