| CD REVIEW No Quarter Given |
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Band : No Quarter Given British quality Metal label Rising Records recently signed a distribution deal with SPV, meaning that their albums will now be readily available in 30 more European countries. Among the stuff the label already released this very year was also No Quarter Given's debut album (other albums including recent releases by Early Grave, Many Things Untold, Sworn Against, and Trigger The Bloodshed). Cornwall county (Southwest of England) act NQG was formed in 2005 from Metal "giants" Dead Without Issue and Cerakai, with a line-up currently including singer Hawk, guitarists Jus and Rob, bassist Noy, and drummer Liam. I've no idea (because no info) of how the band progressed from local stars to recording artists, but I understand that they got signed to Rising last year, and that the album was already recorded (and produced, by Mark Daghorn...who's worked with the likes of Cradle Of Filth, One Minute Silence, Orange Gobblin, and Raging Speedhorn...at Red House Farm) before that year was over and done. In mid January the guys recorded a video for the track "Fallen Paradigm", which hit the music tv channels somewhere in March. That same month, the guys had signed a management deal with Ark Entertainment, which would help 'em get the gigs all over the UK during Summer.By late April, the boys had posted two songs from their forthcoming album at their MySpace page, and were getting entousiast reactions. Of course, the album (10 tracks for a total of 42 ½ minutes) now out for more than a month it's already been getting reviews from the British press, some of which were rather favourable ("...NQG are the future of British Thrash Metalcore..."), others moderate (3 "K"s in Kerrang!; "...A great range from a promising band..." - Rocksound). Except for album opening track "The Embodiment Begins" and the instrumental finishing of album closer "Endgame", which are both rather atmospheric and epically clean, what you get is a mixture of elements from several Metal genres and Hardcore. At the foundation, of course, are the drums, who definitely emphasize the Thrash feeling with pummeling bass drums and sharp snares, but change to stop-start tactics during Hardcore beatdown moments. Sharp squealing guitars with great riffs and plenty of solos mark the Metal approach of the band, and the deep Death Metal growls eventually bring the balance of the whole towards that latter genre. Metalcore? Sure, but depends on how you look at things because originally the term was used for Hardcore acts using Metal ingredients! Today, the word is used whenever a band uses elements from both Metal and Hardcore, and as a means to make things easier by most music journalists! In this case, the predominant factor remains the Death Metal aspect due to the vocals sticking purely to those growls, and in spite of the additional alternating uses of the elements from both Thrash and Hardcore! Personally (and especially with European bands), I will use the term "Metalcore" but prefer to stick to the original meaning of the term, so to me, if a Death Metal band uses elements from Hardcore (in this case the beatdown moments) they are a Death Metal outfit using Hardcore elements! Overall, I'm not too wild about NQG music, but that's a personal thing because I don't really appreciate the sharpness in their sound. I have to admit though, that as musicians, these guys know how to write good songs, and have to ability to bring 'em out (my rating of the album is predominantly influenced by that latter aspect, by the way)! Check myspace.com/noquartergivemetal for the two songs posted. Also check the newly erected nqgmetal.com! People in Britain, check the band's gig calendar, because the guys may be performing at a venue near you during Summer (and into September)! What with the album now also distributed in Europe, I suppose we Europeans may expect the band to come over for short trips in the near future on the continent as well! 87/100 Tony. |