Toxicon – Be The Fire And Wish For The Wind
Toxicon – Be The Fire And Wish For The Wind
Self-Released
Release Date: 01/01/23
Running Time: 57:00
Review by Paul Hutchings
7/10
As part of our pledge to cover a few bands that may be referred to as part of the underground, we’re starting to seek out bands who are releasing their own music, playing at a level that sits below the waterline, out of sight and earshot of most Metal and Rock fans. First up for me is the quintet from Australia known as Toxicon, who follow the template for what is termed Modern Metal to a tee.
“Be the Fire and Wish for the Wind” is a relatively long album. At just under an hour, music needs to be good to maintain the interest. An intricate blend of riffing, harmonies, cleans and rough vocal delivery, and immeasurable numbers of time changes are brought to you with a huge dose of melody. But does it keep the interest intact for the whole album?
Well, I suppose that depends very much on how much you enjoy the Modern Metal style. For me, it’s a generic, sometimes schizophrenic mix of styles, incorporating a range that encompasses Alternative, Deathcore, Metalcore, Djent or Progressive as well as more traditional elements of the music we love. And I struggle with it.
The eleven tracks that Toxicon present certainly provide variety. There’s everything from Symphonic passages to crushing Deathcore, grinding Alternative and punishing Nu-Metal. The vocals of Wayne Clarris switch from raging throat howls to gentle, measured clean passages. He certainly possesses a decent voice, his manipulation impressive, and he’s supported by backing vocals from drummer Thomas Nunan and bassist Jacob Maloney whose harmonies certainly enhance the songs.
The songs are decent, well-constructed and benefit from a decent production level. They combine bruising breakdowns with melancholic elements and the huge breakdowns that are a feature of bands who wear this cap. They bring brutality, slamming segments that fire along at breakneck speed and contrast with some of the lighter work songs. Listen to the last two songs – the crushing ‘Be The Fire’ and the melancholic title track. Chalk and cheese, yet some common ground links the two. That’s probably the melody that is laced across this album and which makes it more accessible than it otherwise might present.
For me, it’s a little too generic, with the songs not lasting long in the memory. However, this isn’t the type of Metal that really excites me, so it’s not that surprising. If you are a fan of the Modern Metal style, “Be the Fire and Wish for the Wind” may well be an album worth investing time in.
‘(dis)Connect’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. (Dis)connect
02. Paralleysis
03. Fear Itself
04. Deletist
05. Husk
06. The Lost
07. Fear of a Dank Planet
08. Synthetic
09. Shot, Framed and Hung
10. Be the Fire
11. Wish for the Wind
LINE-UP:
Thomas Nunan – Drums
Adam Esposti – Guitar
Wayne Clarris – Vocals
Bart Walters – Guitar
Jacob Maloney – Bass
LINKS:
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