Denial Fiend - They Rise
The Florida, USA band Denial Fiend claims on their webpage (link referenced below), “By Law, the band is focused on blending elements of all forms of classic metal and hardcore with lyrics revolving around themes of horror/gore/zombie movies of the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's.” I think they accomplish this goal and do it well. In fact, I think this band does something very creative; they jump from solid death growls to chanting hardcore yells that are as clear as anything from some of Minor Threat or Social Distortion. The first track, “They Rise,” is the best example of this technique but it is really continued throughout. The second track, “Return To The Tombs Of The Cursed Blind Dead,” is developed around more central riffs and the vocals are not as severely growly, they sound like something more out of a dark glam metal or something akin to Marilyn Manson with a far less pop-like effect. And while the vocals do what they do, the music smoothly and seamlessly slips along its groove core lines with any clumsy efforts clearly hidden by long hours of playing together and polishing styles.
The band carries on this way with no breaks. THEY RISE is metal, and it is heavy, but it also buffs out the normal evil growls with vocals that are understood; the band is singing about blood and the walking of the dead. They are influenced by zombie films (all smart people are influenced by George A Romero’s zombie films somehow in their thinking about contemporary western society). And, Denial Fiend does not exhibit “clever” sounding riffs or crazy guitar parts. The guitar accompaniment is very much appropriate and feels like the strings are zapped with the pick for purposes of building tension and building some musical space between the drum and bass rhythm and the higher notes picked, especially in “Cover Me In Blood” where Sam Williams’ guitar licks are one fabricated by intention. The band’s work is not in doubt on THEY RISE in any way. Denial Fiend is a band that plays and that does not simply adopt metal genre elements in some way trying to “fit in.” Or at least that is how I feel about the CD. THEY RISE pulses from track to track, the vocals are made to order, and the openings of each track, especially of “L.O.D.” (I do not know what L.O.D. stands for) are varied enough to let the listeners understand there is no automatic step labeled “next.” This CD is made by musicians playing metal, not playing at playing metal. Denial Fiend’s THEY RISE rises on my list.
1. Never Enough Road
2. Expression Of Immunity To God
3. Knuckle Eye
4. Leprosaic Belief
5. Language Of Oblivion
6. Tusk And Claw
7. Appreciation For Misery
8. Engineer
9. Celebration OF Damage
10. Acid Lung
11. Stress Fetish
12. Blackish Silver
2. Expression Of Immunity To God
3. Knuckle Eye
4. Leprosaic Belief
5. Language Of Oblivion
6. Tusk And Claw
7. Appreciation For Misery
8. Engineer
9. Celebration OF Damage
10. Acid Lung
11. Stress Fetish
12. Blackish Silver
