Goldsmith – Of Sound and Fury
Goldsmith – Of Sound and Fury
MDD Records
Release Date: 24/06/22
Running Time: 41:59
Review by Paul Hutchings
7/10
Although badged as Thrash, there is a lot more to the third album from Germans Goldsmith. Six years after their last release, “Fire,” the band, now a trio deliver a Heavy Metal album which blends the hardened Thrash elements with wider, Classic Rock influences in an album of quality.
Goldsmith is led by vocalist and guitarist Michael Goldsmith, who has toured for over a decade with Blues-Rock icon Bernard Allison. That experience is combined with bassist Dominik Schweizer and drummer / producer Christoph Brandes, with many flashes relating to Goldsmith’s time with Thrashers Blackend.
So, what do we get with “Of Sound and Fury”? Well, a ferocious opener in ‘Inherit the Wind’ blows any cobwebs away, the musicianship tight and controlled, whilst still threatening to explode at any moment. A classic Heavy Metal theme runs deep in the album, with the second track ‘When A Soul Leaks Black’ surging with melody whilst retaining a harder edge and including some very tightly played guitar.
As the album progresses, there are multiple styles that ooze out. There are shades of Volbeat’s up-tempo Hard Rock on ‘The Parade of Euphoria,’ and more than a touch of the melodies employed by Ghost on ‘Demons of Your World.’ What Goldsmith do well is incorporate these elements without taking them too far. So, although you can pick out snippets, there remains the solidity of the band’s core in each song.
The Thrash roots appear throughout the album. More Metallica than Slayer, there’s plenty of faster, aggressive music here, all balanced with rich melodies that enhance and lift the songs. The explosive second half of ‘Demons of Your World’ also sees double tracked guitar giving the song a Maiden / Metallica vibe. It’s enjoyable stuff.
Inevitably, for we are talking about a German band here, there is a ballad tucked away. ‘For Those with the Dreams That Were Crushed’ is typically crafted, with rich vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar work. It’s got a seventies feel about it, almost Crosby, Stills & Nash in places. It’s certainly a pause on the more frenetic music that is served before it.
The final three songs conclude the album in a more expected manner. ‘Hero’ isn’t the strongest of the songs, more Power Metal than anything else, whilst the anthemic ‘Higher, Further, Faster’ is rather average. That leaves ‘The Reprise,’ a six-minute instrumental track to finish and this is a solid way to bring things to a close, with thick riffs, superb musicianship and a high tempo guaranteed to get the head nodding.
With a decent production thanks to Brandes, “Of Sound and Fury” is certainly an enjoyable album, despite a couple of flaws.
‘Hero’ Official Lyric Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Inherit the Wind
02. When A Soul Leaks Black
03. The Parade of Euphoria
04. Demons of Your World
05. For Those with The Dreams That Were Crushed
06. Hero
07. Higher, Further, Faster
08. The Reprise
LINE-UP:
Michael Goldsmith – Guitars / Vocals
Dominik Schweizer – Bass
Christoph Brandes – Drums
LINKS:
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