onsdag 5 Mar 2008, 9:33
Album Reviews
From Black Velvet magazine (Issue 53)
With their first full-length release, Hampshire's reigning metal kings Nephwrack present their eclectic and progressive sound over ten refreshingly original tracks. Opener Legion sets the standard high, with its heavy rock stomp giving way to growled vocals and huge guitar solos. Second track Blacks the Sky keeps up the pace with its weighty guitars and melodic breakdown. The Once and Future King, it seems, has it all covered. Across the album, Nephwrack have managed to cram in just about everything, from the punchy political romp of Cold Skin, to the tender acoustic balladry in the opening minutes of Leviathan Rises.
Nephwrack's songs are perfectly executed and produced, and as big-sounding and anthemic as anything produced in the US. However, they resist the urge to imitate the giants of US metal and, in doing so, produce an album which is eclectic, inspired and refreshingly and identifiably British.
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From BASE.AD (May 2007)
On first listen of this album it would be tempting to assume that here was another American metal band singing about degradation and urban decay. Not so, Nephwrack are a quintet from the pastoral surrounds of Hampshire. Having toured and honed their sound over the last six years they have released their debut album The Once and Future King. Still unsigned, they are developing an impressive live reputation, having chiselled a sound that captures the melodic sound of Metallica whilst conveying the apocalyptical angst of Iron Maiden – Bruce Dickinson has even been championing the band on his radio show; exalted company for such an inexperienced band but certainly showing the exuberance of youth to turn a few heads.
The clean and pronounced production creates clarity to the album, emphasising the melodic qualities of the band and it's here they are at their most proficient, combining piano motifs and acoustic breaks with crunching riffs and tub-thumping drums. 'Leviathan Rises' does this with the most conviction, opening up with acoustic balladry – they've got a soft side – before giving way to a galloping guitar line, more than a little indebted to Metallica's 'The Four Horsemen', in a mighty display of power.
Expect them to be signed very soon.
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From P.T.O. (May 2007)
Sounds like Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards, Iron Maiden, and Metallica
Initially I thought I was going to review a screaming metal band, which I wouldn't have minded, but what I got was something equally as good.
Nephwrack have powerful vocals, furious drumming and amazing guitars. The album is based around war stories, I don't know if they are fictional or not, but they songs are enjoyable nonetheless.
The first song "Legion" was not at all what I was expecting. In my honest opinion it was a bit of a weak song to start with, however it has grown on me as it is a good song, I guess because it was not what I was expecting, even with my preconceptions of what I was expecting.
The second song "Blacks the Sky" grabbed my attention though; it reminded me of Iron Maiden to an extent. This track proved to me that they are more than just another metal band, their songs are often given fantastic soft moments that contrast against the majority of their songs and it works. "Fall of Empires" shows they are also able to reach out beyond British Metal, as it begins with haunting guitars, which I found very impressive.
"By The Light" instantly grabs you and the vocals take a different turn by being sung very fast, this is just a glimpse of how Nephwrack use their vocals. Later in the album haunting/chanting vocals are used that just works fantastically.
The best song on the album without a doubt is "Leviathan Rises". The quiet acoustic section begins the song, initially I thought that this acoustic part was the song itself, but no, it just builds up and gains nothing short of raw power. This really did remind me of Demons & Wizards, so much so it could even be one of their B-Sides. An epic song.
The final song begins on an interesting note, clean guitars and acoustic switching over, it's fantastic, and the vocals are deep and powerful. There's even a tambourine if you listen carefully enough. When the electric guitars kick in the song still retains its interesting sound, I can't put my finger on where I have heard this sound before but it's good none the less. The song then returns to its acoustic sound with a crash and glass breaking, reinforcing the conflict theme. It's here that the vocals become more haunting as they and the guitars fade out together.
Rating: 8/10, fans of similar artists will like this. Ten unexpectedly great tracks.
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From : GETREADYTOROCK.COM (May 2007)
After a series of self financed EPs sold independently, we get Nephwrack's debut full length LP with a near alternative metal take, and a nod at goth metal too.
The opening track features some furious guitar work, while later we get some good vocal range, and guitar interplay with the intelligence of Iron Maiden.
'Cold Skin' kicks off with a rhythmic bass line and a melodic guitar riff, before we get the heavy rhythmic growls of the vocals.
The vocal and guitar harmonies on 'Fall Of Empires' work well.
'Teargas' takes us more into extreme metal territories, the thrash bursts handled well and coherently.
Good solid and consistent, great debut.***
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From COUNTY TIMES (Apr 27 2007)
Those orcs just keep getting everywhere. Their guttural singing crops up several times on "The Once & Future King", the album debut of the Hampshire Quintet Nephwrack (out on May 1st)
Six years of playing live, including being hits of the Bloodstock festival, and a series of independently distributed EP's have honed the band's sound that they are maybe not the heaviest metal band, but they are very literate and pretty warlike.
The Arthurian legend title line pops up in both "Cold Skin" and the closing "Messiahs Day". Roman legions, hellfire, suicides, teargas, bloodshed, crumbling empires and apocalypse are all here with the bands blazing guitars ready to shoot or cut down all comers.
Cut straight to "Leviathan Rises" for an almost acoustic first half before the melodic mayhem returns.
All British army tank loudspeakers should be equipped with this album immediately.
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From LOUCIFERSPEAKS.COM
War… strong clean vocals… black metally vocals… guitar solos and melodies that, when twinned with poignant lyrics, make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. This is "The Once And Future King".
This is the new sound of Nephwrack.
I don't know what I was expecting when Nephwrack said they were going to release an album. I knew it would be different to the EP – I just didn't realise how different! Even the few Nephwrack gigs that I've attended didn't really prepare me for it ("Leviatian Rising" seems completely different to how I remember it!) and so, when I popped the disk into the CD player I was surprised. Surprised in a very good way.
"The Once And Future King" is produced to a very high professional standard. This means that you can enjoy each track in it's full glory rather than wondering what it could be like if only the production was that little bit better.
The album starts off with "Legion" which is, in this reviewer's opinion, the weakest track on the album. Perhaps this is just a question of personal taste, but I would not have opened with this one. Fortunately, this is the only track that lets the album down.
The highlights for me are "Blacks The Sky", "Underclass", "Fall Of Empires", "By The Light" and the magnificent "Leviathan Rising". Special mentions need to go to "Teargas" and "Cold Skin" for providing the aforementioned hairs-on-the-back-of-neck moments. The moment just before and during the guitar solo in "Teargas" is one and the part (and just after the part) when Christian sings "And we are tired, and lulled to sleep by the death outside our door" in "Cold Skin" is another.
As a listener (and, ok, I admit it – a fan), I couldn't have hoped for more from a debut. So, why am I giving it an 8 out of 10? Why not the full 10? I'm doing this because I know this isn't the best the Nephwrack can do – I know that whatever they do next will eclipse this completely. With that said, you still need to buy this album – get yourself a slice of history in the making.
Rating: 8/10… ok, maybe 9/10….
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From RAWKSTAR.NET
Hmmm. Not bad. Meaty, metally, reassuringly al-dente. Vocals with character, interesting hooks, solid riffs, good solos, excellent choruses. Sing-a-longable. Think Clutch. Think good enough to get away with singing instead of just shouting. Think worth seeing live. This band could possibly do very well… not too generic, not too extreme. Slighty anthemic, but not so as to be cliched.
Remember the name of this band, you might well hear more from them. Good stuff.
Rating: 8/10
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From LIVE4METAL
Works on every level, the acoustic breaks, the scorching solo, the vocals. Everything is absolute killer. …World class