| CD REVIEW Ventflow |
 |
|
Band : Ventflow Swindon based quartet Ventflow (Swindon is situated in the Wiltshire county, or the mid-East region of England, and roughly smack in the middle between Bristol and Reading) started out in April 2004 with a different singer than today, the original band taking its musical influences from the likes of Pantera, Machine Head, Carnal Forge, Biohazard, Lamb Of God, and Pissing Razors to forge their Death-infused Thrash Metal. The intent was simple: to fuse aggressive and extreme music with an ice cold groove, something that would get crowds a-moving and energy a-flowing! In early November 2004 the original singer quit due to musical differences, but rather than stop the band, the remaining trio of guitarist Steve Clarke, bassist Craig Daws, and drummer Wayne Barrett decided to stick around and seek out a new singer, which they found that same month in the person of the very suited Lee Brennan! The next six months the 4 got used to each other, writing music that made allowances for new influences, and the synergy between the members would make ‘em stand through the occasional difficult times they would encounter ahead. Late 2007 the four then eventually released their debut 5-track demo An Education In Aggression (and at the same moment as release the guys already ask their fans whether they’d like the band to make a full-length effort next), which contained their now staple songs “A New Age Of Violence” (which has been likened with the same memorable qualities as Testament’s “Into The Pit”, Aanthrax’ “Caught In A Mosh”, or Exodus’ “Bonded By Blood” in a review by metalunderground.com), and “I Piss On Your Grave”. In July 2008 the band sets up instruments and recording paraphenalia (pc, among others) in a hall where Clarke and Daws usually do their martial arts practicing, and record what was supposed to become their second demo. I take it this demo was eventually sent out to label and subsequently attracted the attention of the good people at Copro Records/ Casket Music, whom are now releasing Ventflow’s official full-length debut album! From the first demo there are, evidently, both “A New Age Of Violence” and “I Piss On Your Grave” (album opener), as well as “The Scars Remain The Same”, but the band opted to post more recent songs (in casum: the album’s title track, plus “12 Gauge Diplomacy” and “These Times Of Darkness”) at their MySpace page! More than their almost relentless pace (which is slowed down only occasionally for a moody intro), Ventflow distinguishes itself from other bands in the genre by occasionally adding wacky lead guitar parts to the otherwize groove-laden extremist aggression and…above all, by their singer! Brennan has a way of alternation his “normal” Thrash Death scream with a somewhat Blackened squeal (almost like a pig being guttered…and I hope you understand, that is a góód thing!) adding a fierce coldness to the tracks beyond compare! The only down thing on this recording would be the sound quality! Remember now, this was recorded at home, and as such the effort is very admirable indeed. But soundwize things are a bit on the shrill side of the sound spectrum, and while that may well have been the objective, I have a strong feeling that this album would’ve benefitted ever-so-much from having the low notes (provided by the bassist and drummer) come through more clearly! Just a little thing, really, but that’s how I feel… In the past, Ventflow has played support to the likes of Breed 77, 3 Inches Of Blood, Municipal Waste, Head On, and Stout, gotten endorsements from Ed-Stone Rockwear and Death Industries England, and with their official album now out, there’s no reason why more high-profile supports wouldn’t be in the list of possibilities. Meanwhile, they were already chosen from a heap of bands to perform at this year’s Bloodstock festival. At the moment there doesn’t seem to be a real tour planned yet (not even in the UK), but I’m hoping for things like that to happen for this nice band! 89/100 Tony. |