The Netherlands own Callenish Circle have been around the melodic death metal scene since the early 90's, and over the last few years have been released a strong string of albums on the Metal Blade label. Pitch.Black.Effects is no exception, as the band attempts to further push the genre and cement their name alongside the greats like At the Gates, In Flames, Soilwork, and Dark Tranquility. In fact, if you like any of those bands, chances are you will love this Dutch five-piece. The songs here are all well crafted bursts of aggressive and bombastic brutality with heaps of melody. Singer Patrick Savelkoul has that typical Gothenberg vocal approach, the "melodic growl" so to speak, that works so well with these riff heavy tracks that are also bursting with bubbling synthesizers and the occasional female backing vocals. Songs like the rampaging "Ignorant" or "Schwarzes Licht " are catchy as hell, with insistent riffs and melodies that stick in your brain like glue. "Sweet Cynanide" recalls vintage In Flames, or even Nightrage, with Savalkoul's venemous screams leading the charge and the rhythm section of drummer Gavin Harte & bassist Rene Rokx working overtime. However, it's epic sounding stuff like "Guess Again" that really is going to make these guys, with plenty of monstrous and crushing guitar riffs from Ronny Tyssen and Remy Dieteren, the right amount of keyboards, and walls of multi-tracked death metal vocals from Savelkoul. They even throw in a nifty little gothic/progressive instrumental number to close the show with "Pitch Black", complete with waves of keyboards and effects laden guitar washes.
Callenish Circle have certainly started off 2006 with a bang, as Pitch.Black.Effects is a worthy successor to to 2003's My Passion//Your Pain, as well as a sure bet to be one of the strongest melodic death metal albums of the year.
Track Listing
1. This Day You Regret
2. Ignorant
3. Behind Lines
4. Schwarzes Licht
5. Sweet Cyanide
6. Blind
7. Guess Again
8. Self-Inflicted
9. As You Speak
10. Pitch Black
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
