CIRCLE PIT

After hearing The Defiled’s first EP “1888″, I was very intrigued and excited to see where this path would take the band in the future. MY GOD! With their latest offering “Grave Times”, they have created a masterpiece!

Over the years, the music scene has had alot of metalcore bands that come, make their mark and then all of a sudden, they disappear off the radar. It’s as if they can’t create the magic they had on their debut album and become a latest casualty of extinction. Just like Static-X, The Defiled, they are achieveing something very different that gives them individuality and a positive future in the metal scene.

There is always the debate in this day and age that whenever a male band who wears make up, fringes over their faces and heavily tattooed, the majority of the public quickly label them “scene” or the common one “emo”. It is very clear that with The Defiled, their image stands out and intrigues you on if they are going to be a predictable artist that jump on the bandwagon but dare I say, this is not the case with this band, their dark, industrail inspired image complements their sound that adds to the recipie that stand outs within the scene!

From their opening track “In The Land of Fools” the dark electronic introduction fuses a sense of suspense of what you are going to expect and they make no disappointment, their hard bouncing riffs make it difficult to keep your head still and the unique vocals of Stitch.D are hardhitting and it would devastate an audience in a live gig. Further on into this album, it grows into an addictive listen, their early-chimara inspired riffs keep you hooked, the raw energy from J.C’s double kicks and their electronic sound compliments the music very well. For me, The Defiled reminded me of the sounds of Fear Factory and Static-X.

Stitch D’s vocal range will grow on you as well, whenever he is screaming intensely to kick the track up into high gear, he is also offering clear vocals that are easy to get your head around,it reminded me very much a mix of Early Mark Hunter of Chimaira, James Hart of Eighteen Visions with a hint of Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.

Each song on the album is an anthem and full of adreneline, the passion within this band is clearly identified. Each track stands out with catchy choruses that will stay in your head and instant mosh pit fillers! Other stand out tracks are “The Resurrectionists”, “Call in Arms” and “Locked In Freedom” each very tight and kick you up the ass! The last song “Final Sleeps” has a quieter tone and a very soft ending that reflects on a brutal album.

After listening to this album, it shows how much a kick ass effort this band have made and there is clear intention that this band mean serious business! With their reputation of tearing it up a new asshole live and causing chaos, they have the ingredients of becoming the band to watch in the future and it would not surprise me when they climb up the festival line up ladder and start headlining in different countries. Since their EP, they haven’t desserted the style they started with fit in with the scene but matured and still as heavy and intense.

Before you write these guys off, what you need to know is that they’re not just a typical metal-core band, they offer a diverse sound that gives you the idea that they are not afraid to push the boundaries and experiment with their sound for the future albums. This isn’t just any metal album, but one that will be remembered just like Killswitch Engage’s “Alive and Just Breathing”, Static-X “Wisconsin Death Trip” and Fear Factory’s “Demanufacture”, you get the point…that sounds out from any others, their diverse sound will keep you coming back for more.

Words by Ben Jones

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