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Starkill - Virus Of The Mind

Published October 14 2014


*
=Staff's pick

Be Dead Or Die*
Winter Desolation
Breaking The Madness*
Virus Of The Mind
Skyward
Before Hope Fades
Into Destiny*
God Of This World
My Catharsis
Convergence


Genre Melodic Death/Power Metal
Parker Jameson
Vocals
Tracks 10
Parker Jameson
Guitar
Running time 45 Min.
Tony Keathley
Guitar
Label Century Media
Shaun Andruchuk
Bass
Release 20 October 2014
Spencer Weidner
Drums
Country USA
Parker Jameson
Keyboard
Producer Chuck Macak
Similar artists Children Of Bodom, Wintersun, Ensiferum

Chicago based Starkill's debut album Fires Of Life (2013) crossed my path just recently, and it hit me as a very good album with a fresh touch of very guitar driven and melodic metal in the same vein as for example Ensiferum, Children Of Bodom and Wintersun. I was very enthusiastic to find out that they are already to deliver the follow-up Virus Of The Mind and my hopes were set high for this release, and to put it short: it does not disappoint me.

Their own description of the music is melodic death metal. I have a slight problem with calling this kind of music that, just as is the case with Children Of Bodom and Dark Tranquillity, but I guess that is as close as you get to a proper label since it's musically mostly fast paced power metal with dark vocals and the band was formed from the ashes of a symphonic black metal band, which in a few passages can be heard here but even more on the previous album where some Dimmu Borgir moments pass by every now and then.

What differs this band from the already established ones in the genre is that this sounds more fresh and vital compared to for example the previosuly mentioned bands. They are not breaking any new grounds at all here, but there are plenty of great riffs and licks, a focus on good melodies, great vocals and a good pace and flow throughout the album. Starkill really writes complete songs, which are rich and full and where every element has a purpose, rather than just stacking riffs on top of each other.

This album is in the press release told to be even more guitar oriented than the debut, but I can't personally hear that. The level is more or less the same, and if anything I feel there are a bit less guitars here, but if you are a fan of shredding you will not be disappointed here either. The album is however correctly stated a tiny bit darker than the debut, meaning more melancholic and not heavier. It still feels refreshingly light and they let the melodies stand in full focus.

It happens a lot in the songs, but not because it "should". It all fits, it all makes perfect sense and it all has a purpose in order to drive the music forward. Everything melts together splendidly and creates a really good flow and everything is being carried forward on a comfortable bed of great melodies with a subtle keyboard filling up the atmosphere nicely.

On this album vocalist Parker Jameson showcases his clean vocals for the first time and technically he is definitely pulling it off but those short almost gothic-like moments on the album I am not too enthusiastic about. There are not many of them that stick out but they at least fill the purpose of creating a necessary overall dynamic sound landscape but I feel they are also the reason the album loses momentum from time to time.

All in all, this is a very good album, but musically not quite up to par with the previous effort, Fires Of Life. If you like this album, you are obliged to lay your hands on their smashing debut as well. I predict a very bright future for this constellation, and considering the fact that they are already doing extensive tours with big names, they are already on their way.

Performance
Originality
Production
Vocals
Songwriting

7

5

7,5

7,5

7

 
Summary



7 chalices of 10 - Tommy


Related links:

www.facebook.com/starkillofficial