After Smoke Clears – Intentions
After Smoke Clears – Intentions
Self-Released
Release Date: 19/11/2024
Running Time: 26:46
Review by Beth Morait
8/10
Sometimes it’s nice to take a step away from your favourite music genre and explore something on the periphery of your tastes. And that’s what I’ve decided to do for my next review. Now, I do like a bit of Metalcore, but it has to be the right Metalcore. Luckily for me, UK Metalcore band After Smoke Clears, are my brand of Metalcore, erring on the Progressive and Melodic side of things… So not too far out of my comfort zone!
“Intentions” is their sophomore album and has been hotly anticipated by fans since the release of their debut, “Edification” in 2020, with the press release billing them as the ‘UK kings of underground Metal’. That’s a hefty title to live up to. So, the question is does “Intentions” cut it for this crown?
The album opens with the short but sweet (not lyrically I hasten to add) hard hitter, ‘Status Game’, which features Australian Metalcore musician, Damien Bigara. It’s got more than a smattering of an Industrial Metal feel to it, which pleases me, and musically is harsh and discordant, with machine gun bass drum, and edgy sounding guitar work. But this spiky detuned pit is a good thing, which backs up the punishing lyrics well. This is the first of 3 tracks that feature guest musicians, the others being ‘Serenity’ (Featuring Jimmy Dahmer) and ‘Animal’ (Featuring Confessions Of A Traitor vocalist, Stephen MacConville).
This album is pure dirty Metalcore, musically. Everything downtuned to within an inch of its life, growling vocals, and pure rage. But it’s also carefully planned and executed. The music is measured, and the clean vocals float in and somehow cut through the battlefield barrage of instruments.
It’s full of dancefloor bangers, too. Songs like ‘Chase The Sun’, and ‘Unintelligent’ make me rue the fact that I’m heading towards the half century mark. 20 something years ago, I would have been the first in the pit when ‘Unintelligent’ dropped, and would have revelled in releasing my anger, and getting punched in the face by others doing the same. Sadly, my aging broken carcass doesn’t allow that anymore. So, I’ll just settle for turning it up loud in my headphones, pulling my ‘dirty face’, and banging my head a bit. This is my favourite track on the album by far. Lyrically, it’s the most cohesive, too.
In case you hadn’t had enough of being metaphorically punched in the privates via your audio receptors, penultimate track ‘Echoes’ comes in like a bulldozer, armed with knives, ready to chef up your vitals a little bit more. I think my ears may be bleeding from the sheer pulverising volume of this track. Dominated by ridiculous use of Bass Drum triggers, it kicks the shit out of you, then leaves you wanting more!
Final track, ‘Daze’, brings things neatly to a close, with a song that’s both lyrically the most poetic, and musically the most expansive. There’s a fuller use of sampling here than I can pick out on the rest of the album, too, which adds an extra element.
All in all, this is a solid album, if a little on the short side. Is it worthy of the regal title? Well, maybe not quite (sorry). But it’s definitely worthy of your attention if Metalcore floats your boat in any way.
‘Fractured’ Official Audio
TRACKLISTING:
01. Status Game (feat. Damien Bigara)
02. Serenity (feat. Jimmy Dahmer)
03. Chase The Sun
04. Animal (feat. Stephen MacConville)
05. Fractured
06. Unintelligent
07. Echoes
08. Daze
LINE-UP:
Nick – Vocals
Kiran – Guitar
Aaron – Bass
David – Drums
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Beth Morait and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
