SIDERIAN
Origins [self-released]
After a lengthy hiatus [time spent writing this album], Northampton’s premier thrashers Siderian return with their eponymous debut album, and it was certainly worth the wait. Recorded at Initiate Audio and Media Studios with renowned producer Neil Hudson at the helm Siderian have created a ferocious album that seems certain to catapult them into the consciousness of every self-respecting metalhead.
Wasting little time on pleasantries opening salvo ‘Geneva’ arrives like an irradiated warhead and proceeds to pummel the listener for four frenetic minutes. As a calling card it’s the perfect introduction to Siderian, and contains all the bands essential ingredients: from the neat time changes to the blistering guitar solos to the groove metal bludgeon, which are all wrapped up in a musical maelstrom that threatens to sweep the listener away. That groove feel is most evident on next cut ‘With the Tide’. Taking their foot off the pedal ever so slightly, it finds guitarists James Upton and James Evans firing off each other atop some amazing drumming and it’s a track that’s sure to ignite mosh pits.
With scything guitars ‘The Supplicant’ pushes thrash to the extremities and while some of that genre can be a bit goofy (think Anthrax or Gama Bomb) Siderian are operating at the darker end of the spectrum. In ‘The Supplicant’ they’ve created the soundtrack to a global apocalypse which evokes blood red and flame yellow hues. The centrepiece of the album, ‘Voices’ contains an ambient mid-section, and it’s an impressive employment of light and shade. The acoustic flourishes act as a foil meaning when the riff comes crashing in it crashes in hard and it’s further evidence of the band maturing. It’s taken almost three years since the bands inception to arrive at this album, but the timing is perfect as I doubt they would have made such a brave decision earlier in their career.
One of two tracks re-recorded for Origins, ‘Lizard Method Madness’ was the bands first single and the brutal new bridge developed on this version shows the band honing their writing skills. It’s here that the rhythm section [bassist Chris Cox and drummer John Booth] come into their own in providing a solid foundation for Dave Pope’s vocals. Ranging from guttural growls to black metal shrieks Dave weaves his vocal lines around the instrumentation which gives a nice rich texture to proceedings. Album closer ‘Oleum’ doesn’t let up the intensity, with each drum beat delivered like a well aimed punch and ensures things end as frantically as they began.
Although you can dip in and out of Origins it’s also the kind of record that’ll reward a complete listen. The intensity and aggression displayed throughout ensure it hangs together as a cohesive whole while the clear production, by putting all the instruments on an even keel, provides a unified listening experience. Armed with this excellent debut and some big gigs penned in [including dates with thrash heavyweights Vader] 2019 could prove to be Siderian’s year.
Peter Dennis
Origins is out this Friday, order here
