EMERGENCE

3.5 stars. GODSTICKS are from Wales and are led by guitarist/vocalist Darran Charles. "Emergence" is studio album number three from 2015. I still remember the buzz over this band on the site here. They released that EP in 2008 that was making some waves, but I didn't bite. I did get their first two records though, feeling both were 3 star albums. Just too vocal heavy, lyric heavy I suppose. The hints of heaviness were so good that many including myself were wondering why they weren't going more in that direction.

Well the band announced that they had found their sound here, upping the heaviness a lot, but still mixed with the lyric heavy past. There's a lot of vocals here. I wonder if they heard the fans complaints, or was it the impact of opening for both Mike Keneally and THE ARISTOCRATS prior to recording "Emergence". Bryan Beller played bass on GODSTICKS debut and has been part of both Mike Keneally and THE ARISTOCRATS, so I think that's the connection. By the way "Faced With Rage" from 2017 the followup to "Emergence" is where t all came together for this band. By far my favourite from them.

My top three are all on the second half but that opener certainly showed a band who has changed with the heaviness on it. Even heavier on that fourth track "Exit Stage Right" but that is followed by the ballad-like "All That Remains". No thankyou, and they added guest strings on this one. First top three is the next song "Hopeless Situation" where we get this killer guitar solo to end it. Another top three is the title track which is heavy duty but catchy. This works so well. My favourite. Then the closer "Lack Of Scrutiny" for being fast and heavy with some guest horns.

Cool to see Bruce Soord as a guest adding some backing vocals. Of course Darran Charles would guest with THE PINEAPPLE THIEF live and in studio after this release. My suggestion is to check out "Faced With Rage" first. A new drummer and a second guitarist who adds synths really helped make a difference on that one, besides just going consistently heavier. Is that Lazarus on the cover?

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