Nice debut effort from this young bunch of UK hard rockers who like their metal with more than a hint of melody. After receiving strong acclaim for their single 'Fight' back in 2007 Sondura have been plotting their full length release and Live Before You Die is the end result. The album has been mixed by John Mitchell who's worked with the likes of Funeral For A Friend, Enter Shikari and Architects, all bands who have made significant strides in the past year or so and Sondura seem well placed to follow in their wake.
Brothers Tom and Jack Watson share guitars and vocal duties with the rhythm section consisting of bassist Steve Dillon and drummer Fred Green. There is more than a hint of heavier Nickelback to the bands sounds with altered vocals and punchy riffs being a feature of 'Free Spirits' and 'Scars' and the hooks are memorable and immediate. 'Falling Free' is a radio-friendly mid-tempo chugger that would doubtless find them accepted by the mainstream but their roots are firmly in Metal territory and there is plenty here that will appeal to those with a taste for a harder-edged sound. Check out a few tracks on their MySpace and give them a few minutes of your time; this is a band we will certainly be hearing more about in the near future.
Track Listing
Live Before You Die
Scars
Never Get Enough
Black and White
Falling Free
A Thousand Miles
Free Spirits
Fake
Last Man Standing
Wasting