(Listenable Records) Total Time: 39:24
This is the debut album by French metal band HACRIDE on the Listenable Records label. The first obvious thing that comes to mind while listening to their album is their influences from MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and DEATH. This is not your usual “neurotic” metal (like a friend of mine calls it), because it is much more straightforward and more easily digested.
That is not to put HACRIDE apart from the rest of the bands in the genre. On the contrary, they are on the same level as the rest of the bands, but for the time being they lack the sense of identity. That is to say, that I feel that HACRIDE have not yet found their musical identity, as it can be concluded after listening to their album. Some songs show their MESHUGGAH side, while others their DEATH side. I guess their next release will put things into place!
Do not be fooled, this is a HIGHLY recommended album; the musicianship, the arrangements, the weird time changes and other musical experimentations (what part can a saxophone play?), the production and the sense of tightness and raw power this album gives you puts it on top of the list. One sure thing is that the future is most certainly bright for HACRIDE and we eagerly await their next release...
