Review by Lisa Nash

This is the second album by Plymouth based Huron, a follow up to the successful Cheyne Stoking in 2009 that was championed by Bruce Dickinson on his radio show.

Band Members are Palmer (Vocals), Sims (Guitar, Vocals), Sinclair (Guitar), Conroy (Drums), James (Bass, Vocals).

Branded starts like an old classic film, the gong signals the opening track and doom laden Iommi styled guitars suggest a grand and dramatic metal track, and just as you think you know where this is going to go, it changes direction, catches you off guard and sends you hurtling off at a 1000 miles an hour. A combination of clean and screamo vocals, pounding drums, velocity and anger. Mary Celeste continues this course, at relentless speed. Disperse or We Fire is equally fuelled and ferocious, Blood in Blood out has the potential to be a Mosh Pit Monster, All my Gods conjures forth images of Vikings on the rampage and Serpentswine introduces the Heavy Metal Triangle (honest). Just when you are considering the idea that to attend a Huron gig you would need to be young, strong and very fit, they surprise the listener with Eternal Sea Part 1 this is a swerve to the right and a turn to the left and makes for a refreshing break, acoustic alternating between almost classical guitar to a more open busking style. This track showcases the vocals and proves this is no one trick pony band, because it is such a different style it has high impact and ends with the vocals just as a whisper. Which is why Suffer is such a brutal onslaught afterwards, although a brutal onslaught with a really good groove. Black Harvest is slower in comparison, it grinds and then you realise you are unconsciously nodding your head vigorously in time to the music. Eternal Sea Part 2 is not just more of the same, it has complicated rhythms, revives the storytelling metal of old, its vocals are desperate and indicate agony and pain.

The album is an interesting package, well produced and quality, had all the songs been like the first 6 it might have become a little hard to differentiate between songs, but the way the last 4 are so different really enhances the album and makes it something you want to hear again and again.