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In the current music climate, with many popular collaborations becoming the norm on many recent records, the idea of a super-group seems sublime on paper, but; as history has shown, super-group efforts haven't gone too well in the long run and are lucky to last a year.
However, on the horizon a new super-group has stepped up to try and conquer the hard task. Axewound, formed of Matt Tuck (Bullet for my Valentine) Liam Cormier (Cancer Bats) Mike Kingswood (Glamour of the Kill) with Joe Copcutt (ex Rise to Remain) and Jason Bowld (Pitchshifter) make up this new quintet. With each excelling in their own individual success, could egos and musical differences be put aside to make the super-group record that many metal fans have been longing for?
Opening title track 'Vultures' and 'Post Apocalyptic Party' sound very tailored to Tuck's musical taste as the opening riffs and rhythm sound just alike to a Bullet for my Valentine record, but Cormier's vocals balance it out somehow into a sound that isn't very common amongst “typical metalcore” albums of recent. To top it off the track has mesmerising guitar solos and breakdowns to boot. As Vultures moves further on, tracks 'Victim of the System' and 'Cold' display how well the fast paced style suits Cormier's vocal prowess so well, as the quick and chopping heavy guitar chugs can be found on the Canadians full time occupation at Cancer Bats.
However, at the albums halfway point, the riffs and rhythm's become slightly tedious and somewhat predictable and could risk bringing the “typical metalcore” label to Vultures, not before however you're treated to a some final blinding breakdowns and guitar pieces in 'Burn Alive', 'Blood Money' and 'Lies' and a magnificent slow orchestral piece for 'Collide'.
From the get go, Vultures will be a record very much under pressure not just from critiques but the many diverse fans that each members fans carry with them, however with the talent that Axewound showcases; Vultures brings the brutal sound to chop away all doubters that oppose them.
