Baron Carta – Shards Of Black EP
Baron Carta – Shards Of Black EP
Self-Released
Release Date: 29/06/22
Running Time: 29:19
Review by Simon Black
7/10
Jono Bacon has been disrupting again. I wrote extensively on his disruptive approach to the problems of the music industry when I reviewed the first of this series of EP’s back in the beginning of 2021 (see here) and his plan continues to run on schedule. This is the third EP, with the little and often approach being taken here, rather than attempting to keep to a label’s album schedule. I didn’t get to hear the EP in between 2021’s “Step Into The Plague”, but this one clearly comes from the same stable.
Personally, I think this is a great idea, as too often bands force themselves to release content based on run time and contractual obligations, rather than because they have something worthwhile and of quality to say. Is it working? Well normally I would nip over to a streaming platform and see how many regular listeners they have, but in this case there is a different consumption model at play, as the band made their first EP free if people signed up for a fan club, and the band have been quietly building consumption away from prying eyes. Time will tell…
It’s effectively a five-track release, with an additional single edit of the lead single ‘Lethality’ and once again there’s a lot of musical variety in here, with the style bouncing around whilst still clearly having a house mix and sound. You would expect any project involving Primal Fear frontman Ralf Scheepers’ to be all about showing off that multi-octave Priest-style range, but once again Bacon pushes him in some very different directions.
This is a lot more down tuned and dirty than you would expect from a vocalist who is the backbone of one of the most distinctive Power Metal acts out there. The only track where that distinctive vocal sound is utilised is ‘Act 3: Purged’ (1 and 2 have been released on each of the 2 previous EP’s). Now, although I quite like the more experimental nature overall, this track stands out as the strongest, from both a song-writing and performance one. At seven minutes it’s quite lengthy, and opens gently before turning up to full Power, but this also gives reign to Scheepers’ considerable range and talents more than the gruffer style that predominates on the rest of the EP.
Single ‘Lethality’ is probably the most eclectic piece on here and although a great statement, is not the catchiest of songs, but then this is a band that’s not abut following the formulas of old. I continue to be impressed by what they are doing, but if you are looking for an ‘everyman’ track, then this release struggles with that and it will be interesting to see if this project ever moves beyond the bounds of the studio to the live arena, as regardless of how game-changing your distribution model is intended to be, bums on seats is how you build a following.
‘Lethality’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Relenar
02. Lethality
03. Athelstan’s Pharoah
04. Ceasefire
05. Act 3: Purged
06. Lethality (Radio Edit)
LINE-UP:
Ralf Scheepers – Vocals
Jono Bacon – Guitar
Morten Gade Sørensen: Drums
LINKS:
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