| CD REVIEW Chiraw |
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Band : Chiraw Darn! You know, I could've sworn...would even have bet money on it...that I'd already come across this Dutch Modern Metal band before, if only because I'd helped the editor-in-chief posting the announcement of the band's 2007 debut album on the website...but it seems like I would've lost money! Originally hailing from the small town of Overijssel (don't confuse with Belgium's Overijse, in between Tervuren and Wavre) just North-West of Almelo (situated at about the same latitude as Amsterdam, but near the German border in the East), the quintet eventually moved to the latter, bigger town, in order to give their music a better chance for distribution. That objective was with the band from its beginnings, the quintet immediately recording the five first songs they'd written after their January 2006 formation for their debut EP Resurrection. With it, they played every bar, club and festival they could get to, all the while continuing to write new songs. Later in 2006 Chiraw entered the Aardschok/ Jägermeister Metal Bash competition, and won with an unanimous jury panel agreeing the band had a real fresh approach on Metal. 2007 saw the band enter the studio to record their debut album Dark Frequencies with Jochen Jacobs (of Textures fame) mixing the takes. In the summer of 2008 the band got a distribution deal with Dutch label Rusty Cage Records, who released the previously self-released album in mid October 2008. Obviously, this new release of the album saw the band play gigs of a somewhat higher level, with support slots for the likes of Sepultura, Textures, Hatesphere, Volbeat Medina Lake, Dry Kill Logic, and many more, while also being invited to play at such festivals as Walrock, Zwarte Cross, Elsrock, and Bevrijdingsfestival Zwolle, and playing plenty of other shows in between. But the guys did not just have fun, they also continued to practice to enhance their playing skills, and continued to write new material. In early 2009 however, keyboardist Gijs Grootelaar decided it was time for him to quit, and it took the other members (singer Robin, guitarist Gep, bassist Thomas, and drummer Ric) until May to find a new keyboardist in one Peter Schmitz, whom they enlisted after just one jam together, cranking up the band's level even more thanks to his inventive play on the synths. So the band continued to prepare for the recording of their second album during Summer 2009, and in September started the recording process entering Amsterdam's Split Second Sound Studio where Jochen Jacobs recorded, mixed, and mastered Scarecrows & Lullabies. Meanwhile, the people at Rusty Cage were feeling unhappy with the insufficient support they could give the bands signed to the label, and stopped their activities altogether in the Summer of 2010. So, Chiraw was without a label...until finally they got in contact with Casket Music/ Copro Records. About time too, I'd say, because by now the band has probably written a new album's worth of material! Anyway, for now this album is what we'll have to do with, and a pleasure it shall be to all among us who like Brutal Modern Metal with a Rock affinity as well as elements from Metalcore and Industrial (synths are oft eerie and albeit Ambient, which is a wacky counterbalance for the guitar's brutality). There's a lot of clean singing, but also a fair amount of screams, and even some grinded screams in the mixture that is the vocals (lead and backing). Before I forget: the band also brings a short (just under 2 minutes) keyboards/ synth instrumental entitled “Radiant”, and with album closer “All I Needed” the guys brings a very calm and serene ballad with a driving keyboards basis, bringing in an increased emotionality only through the vocals (and after a short silence you get about 1 ½ minute of the band's tomfoolery, promoting their new album). Confused yet? Wanna know what the band sounds like beyond this summary description? Then simply check the songs (3 off the new album and 3 off the debut) posted at (www.) myspace.com/chiraw1...or (in the case you're that lucky to be in the neighborhood around that time) go see the band playing at Tattoofest(July 11), Geuzenpop Festival (Aug. 6), or Elsrock(Aug. 27)...all in Holland, of course (you lucky bastards). End conclusion: anyone into...well, what I described above, should check the band's MySpace, and get hooked from the first listening session! Sure as hell that's what happened to me, and even as I'm nearing the end of this review, I still would prefer not having to separate from the album (because that's what one does when reviewing too many albums). All that's left for me to do is to catapult Scarecrows & Lullabies into my “Best Albums Of 2011”-list! There, that's done... 98/100 Tony. |