2017 has seen something of a rap metal revival. With Body Count releasing one of the albums of the year, Rage Against the Machine combining with members of Cypress Hill and Public Enemy to create Prophets of Rage, and the new supergroup Powerflo (feat. members of Cypress Hill, Fear Factory, Biohazard and Downset) threatening to bring the genre kicking and screaming into the 21st century the door is open for young groups such as Hacktivist and Manchester’s own Armageddon Stereo to burst through and make a name for themselves. After a well received first effort in 2015’s Wounds, they’re setting up to reach the next level with Rise Again.
In all, it’s a step in the right direction for this Mancunian four-piece. They may not have yet mastered their direction yet as they still need to learn how to carve our a great hook and establish their own sound away from their influences, but they can certainly play and with the band only a few years old, that’s the main thing they need right now. The rest will come naturally as they evolve.
From the outset, Armageddon Stereo are pulling no punches on this EP. Opener “Shit Show Circus” bombards you with some classic hardcore style riffs and the sort of aggressive rapping that only the British seem to be able to do, and vocalist Vecta Sigma delivers in abundance. Describing themselves as “rap-metalcore”, you don’t really hear much modern metalcore influence, with the 90s hardcore of Biohazard perhaps most apparent in the riffs, with title track “Rise Again” even offering some more thrash metal moments a la This Is Hell (particularly in “Hang ’em High”). Whilst not particularly offering much in originality, they know exactly what they want to do with their music, and you can’t fault that. Mick’s guitar playing is full of crushing riffs and a nice thick tone that’s well suited to hardcore music, and importantly, Jamie Michael’s bass is well placed in the mix to provide plenty of low end and extra heaviness.
The lack of originality might be holding them back, however. Too often you’ll be listening to the tracks of Rise Again and you’ll find yourself asking “where have I heard this riff before?” and you’ll just end up comparing each part to another band. The breakdown at the end of “Hang ’em High” has nice keyboard flourishes to change things up, but even then you’ll be hard pressed not to spot similarities to Chimaira’s endless catalogue of breakdowns. An unfair fact but a fact nonetheless. Despite the variety of vocal styles that Vecta Sigma utilises, it can’t save some tracks, like “Hunt the Wolves”, from being somewhat forgettable either. For all the crushing riffs and skilled instrumentals, Armageddon Stereo still find themselves unable to clinch that big hook which will stick in your brain for hours after hearing it for the first time. In rap metal in particular, that is a crucial part of songwriting that makes a good band great.
In all, it’s a step in the right direction for this Mancunian four-piece. They may not have yet mastered their direction yet as they still need to learn how to carve our a great hook and establish their own sound away from their influences, but they can certainly play and with the band only a few years old, that’s the main thing they need right now. The rest will come naturally as they evolve.
Listen to the EP below.