Hailing from San Francisco's Bay Area, but sounding like they are fresh from Gothenburg, Sweden, comes this powerhouse melodic metal/thrash band Light This City. Featuring the lethal female death vocals of Laura Nichol and the two-pronged guitar attack of Brian Forbes and Steve Hoffman, Light This City take a formula not too unlike At the Gates, In Flames, Arch Enemy, and Dark Tranquility, with no shortage of melodic dual guitar harmonies, catchy melodies, brutal vocals, and sledgehammer rhythms. At just over 40-minutes, the CD moves along at a brisk pace, with one solid number after another. Highlight songs are "The Unwelcome Savior", complete with plenty of Iron Maiden/In Flames influenced twin guitar harmonies, the non-stop blast beat mania of "Exile", the tasty & complex riffs of "City of the Snares", and the snarling death metal mania of "Fear of Heights", which sees Nichol spewing out all sorts of evil mayhem alongside guest vocalist Trevor Strnad from Black Dahlia Murder. If you think Arch Enemy's Angela Gossow is the only shining star among female death metal singers, give this chick a listen.
Overall, Facing the Thousand is a smoldering ride through thrash and melodic death metal terrain, and a journey that is recommended to be taken by any extreme metal fan. The future looks very bright for these Bay Area youngsters based on the quality of material here.
Track Listing
1) Facing the Thousand
2) Cradle for a King
3) The Unwelcome Savior
4) Exile
5) Maddening Swarm
6) City of the Snares
7) The Eagle
8) Fear of Heights
9) Tracks of Decay
10) Like Every Song's Our Last
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