LOAD POINT PULL
"Down in Flames" (WTO
Records; 2007)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
"Down in Flames" is a driving metal record that starts to steamroll over you from its very first track. "Alive" has crushing guitars, a devastating rhythm and vocals that are best described as sinister. In fact, the music throughout reminds me of the scores for one of those post-apocalyptic action/adventure in which a handful of survivors try to out-battle hungry, radioactive zombies. You can almost visualize the noisy, raging car chase as the humans try to escape the zombies' evil clutches.
All right, I'm getting a little off topic here, but it's true. "Down in Flames" is ten solid tracks of crushing, mid-paced metal ... with just a hint of industrial sound ... that could appear on the next "Resident Evil" movie soundtrack. It's killer stuff, with wall-of-guitar production and a vocalist who falls somewhere between Testament's Chuck Billy and KISS's Gene Simmons (especially on "Heavy"). Oh, yeah ... and on "Outta Reach," he also sounds like Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit (don't worry ... it's only for that one track and you can skip it if you so choose but it's really not that bad).
The infectious "Down in Flames" only gets better with repeat plays. It may also get a little repetitious after awhile but, hey, nobody's perfect.
Load Point Pull: Frank Campobasso - vocals; Ryan Westward - guitars; Denny Sipes - guitars; Doug Kenworthy - bass; Bobby Hoskins - drums.
For more information, check out http://www.loadpointpull.net.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2008 by R. Scott Bolton. All
rights reserved.
Revised: 18 Mar 2024 13:23:52 -0500
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