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Haunted Shores / Cyclamen Split EP reviewHaunted Shores say :- We are a currently re-forming band based out of Washington DC and NYC. The songs posted on this page are set to appear on a full-length record which we aim to have completed by late spring/early summer 2010. Many more will be posted as the album is completed over the next couple months! Until then.. enjoy the EP. Cyclamen say :- Striking a balance between technical virtuosity and compositional tact that so many aspire to, but few can achieve, multinational tech metal collective Cyclamen are truly something special to behold, and quite unlike much of what you’ll hear in this or any other year.
So, we'll do this in order. First up we have Haunted Shores, a metalcore band from New York which primarily consists of guitarist Marc Holcomb and vocalist Chris Barretto. Their contribution to the EP opens with the traditional(ish) thrash riffage of 'Sentient Glow'. The track then moves into more metal hardcore territory, admittedly a well travelled route but here it is done with style and panache. Haunted Shores second track on the EP is 'When in Oslo' which is, for me, the highlight of this release. In places it reminds me slightly of Silverstein and their 'Post Hardcore' ilk but has much more variety in both the music and the vocals and is a fantastic track. On the basis of the two tracks on this EP the forthcoming Haunted Shores full length album will be something to really look forward to.
The second pair of tracks on the EP are from UK based hardcore outfit Cyclamen. This is a band that started off as a vehicle for talented multi-instrumentalist Hayato Imanishi, although has now expanded into a full 5-piece. When you listen to their tracks here there are undeniable influences of bands like SiKth and Envy, but Cyclamen are copying no one and their style moves from slow and melodic to fast ahd heavy and back again with ease. Cyclamen's first track on the EP is 'It's There' and it is a beautifully crafted piece of music. An amazing range of styles are fitted into 2 and a bit minutes and the band really get to show off their stuff. Their second track on the EP is 'Let Go', and after the joys of 'It's There' it seems a bit flat. We have had a glimpse of what Cyclamen are capable of, but their second track falls slightly short of the high standard set by the first.
This EP showcases two excellent bands that are on the verge of great things. Both will hopefully have a full length album out later in the year. Haunted Shores need to do more of the same, and Cyclamen have to let go of some of their influences and find their own path, hinted at so well in 'It's There'. Considering this is a release by two unsigned bands the production values are first rate. No comprimises have been made and the quality of the finished product is excellent. Even the cover art (shown at the top of this review) is stunning. Dizzy
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