Superheist are a relatively unknown band hailing from Australia and adopting a similar style to their Nu Metal influences. This statement may be enough to turn away most hardcore metal heads, but if you want to hear about a quality album by any standards then I suggest you read on. Be warned though, there are no amazing guitar solos, blinding drum fills and crushing riffs to make your bowels rumble with excitement, no, there is just a well balanced and emotional album, which I would hope offers more than the surface value qualities listed above.
Forming in 1993 as a Gindcore band, superheist were quick to change with the times and were soon one of Australia's ( I'm not aware of any others... ) most successful Nu Metal acts. One of the most appealing features of IRCR are the vocals, Joey Biro has a great clean voice which is most prominent throughout the album, but also produces one of the best screams I've heard in at least Nu Metal, if not the entire metal scene ( naive statement, but meh... It's a subjective review no?) . The emotion conveyed through his voice is amazing and really does it for me. The guitars are fairly average, as is expected from the genre, but i was impressed by both the bass and drums which stood out as above average. The bass is actually (omg) audible “Dear Enemy”, but not overpowering as in many ( all ) Korn songs and although there are no double kicks, i found the drums more entertaining and appropriate than most metal acts. The keyboards may be a problem for most listeners, there are no virtuoso scale runs (Jane Warman...) or cool dueling solos, instead they are mainly used to create atmosphere and emphasize the other instruments. The keyboards I would guess could be a hit or miss for most listeners, personally i think they make the album, separating the band from other similar acts. All in all each member is strong and there is no real weak point in the line up, not a very aggressive sound overall, more catchy and atmospheric.
The album as a single entity would be the strongest factor IRCR has going for it. With the placement of songs, instrumental interludes, structures and lengths blending together seamlessly. Almost every full song could be a single and there is no low point in all seventeen. I have listened through the entire album start to finish countless times and the consistency is most impressive. The interludes are short enough to not be annoying and because of this they add to the overall “feel” of the album “( Sugerloaf Hill* )”.
Though IRCR does unfortunately fall into a dead and unpopular genre, this does not detract from the experience as a whole. There is no depressed atmosphere associated with the album but instead I find it to be a positive listen. No overly insane instrumental work, which is really expected from the genre and maybe not a “true” metal experience but still the best “Nu Metal” album I've ever heard.
Recommended tracks:
1.Dear Enemy
2.7 years
3.Neverend
4.The Karma Division
5....Hidden track at the end of the album
This is my first review... please give recommendations if possible or if any one actually reads this...
