Year of the Hand Grenade EP,
Products of the FallLeicester's Products of the Fall play a brash form of metalcore that wears the influence of From Autumn To Ashes clearly on their sleeves. The quintet formed in 2000 and boast of 'energetic and explosive' live performances, which have been spoken of by several friends of mine. They've also done well to get critical acclaim from the likes of Kerrang and Big Cheese, so it's clear PotF are doing something right. That something is probably the fact that they don't conform the current 'emo' rulebook. While this genre explosion has brought us whiney bands that sound like the vocalists need castrating, PotF boast a frontman in Jake who sounds like he's ready to rip the head off a young virgin and puke down her neck. With a vocal that spits venom and anger, you don't have to look far to see the band's strengths.
Ultimately this 3-tracker falls down on two counts - it's not the most original stuff you will ever hear and it isn't powerful enough to compete against their US counterparts. But having said that for a demo this is still good stuff; the songs are performed well and they are only demos after all, there's no gloss and sheen which their aforementioned heroes paid for when they recorded. Tracks like 'Party of Five' boast aggressive basslines and scything guitars, but it all takes a back step when Jake launches his vocals with some gusto, attacking each song like it's his last night on Earth. 'Fist Fights and City Lights' arguably works best with drums crashing and guitars buzzing, creating the kind of mayhem you associate with a bomb going off.
Products of the Fall are definitely on to something. This release probably won't have the heavyweight hardcore bands shaking in their boots, but there's enough promise here to show the band may have what it takes to make waves in this country at least. If you like you're music hard and heavy, Products of the Fall will probably interest you no end.
www.productsofthefall.co.uk
Paul
