The Denial - Claws

Even though they are from Italy, one’s first guess is that The Denial is from Sweden. They’ve got the Gothenburg sound like many other bands out there today. So the real question is do they bring anything new to the table of Swedish inspired metal? That question is tough to answer. There are parts of Claws that try to give them some innovation credit, but not enough in my book.

This release isn’t bad, it has some great guitar work, some solid solos and the drums and bass fill in the picture perfectly, but in the end it’s just too watered down. With the exception of the brief additions of Synth to the songs, they don’t stand out.  The band plays music that sounds just like their influences, At the Gates and Hypocrisy, to name a few, but don’t push any boundaries.

For the people who love Swedish inspired metal, this record will fit in your collection very well, but for people who are looking for innovation or a fresh sound, you will probably want to pass. To break it down numerically, it scores 7/10 on musicianship and talent, but 3/10 on originality and freshness.