Odds Against Tomorrow

Wow! Is this the same band thatreleased The Promise? In many ways, no, it isn't. With a new lineup and a new outlook the band has changed their sound to heavier, less melodic and more in your face one that just may help them take the next step.

Pepe adds some extra vocal crunch to Big James'sound by doing some high/low contrasting vocal lines. "The Craving" shows a good example of this. The band has improved its songwriting. The drum performance is also very impressive, with Simon McKay firing on all cylinders and providing the band with the tight backbone they need. The guitars are nice and tight and have a very crunchy tone which is perfect for this style of music. Tracks like "Connie Longacre" and "Time of Need" combine heaviness with some more melodic elements, packed with powerful vocals and strong breakdowns on top of that. Other tracks such as "This is All There Is" and "The Harsh Reality of Self Reflection" showcase a powerhouse attack from beggining to end.

The band also deliver a few acoustic pieces, with second, "Thirty Years of Love and Confidence" being a very nice guitar only performance. The melodies and slow acoustic arpeggios are harmonized very nicely and composed very well.

The title track "Odds Against Tomorrow" is a good finisher with proably the best riffs on the record and a catchy chorus and outro.

If you like your metal nice and crunchy, I suggest you check this out.