Def-Con-One
II

If you were a silly american you might think that nuclear war was a very real possibility if you were subjected to these guy’s band name. But they are no americans, this quartet is british and this new album is called II. II is a strange title, especially considering the fact that this is not their second album. It is kind of progressive, wouldn’t you say? The cover looks a bit nuclear, a bit evil, maybe there’s a war going or a disaster of some kind ad a that time a mask can never go wrong. Thing is though, that the cover art isn’t very interesting so what about the album itself?

Well, it is a kind of groovy thrash metal with an edge and with plenty of energy and lots of groove. It kind of reminds me of Swedish band M.A.N. that we have reviewed a few times here at Hallowed. Maybe they aren’t as unique as said Swedish band, maybe they aren’t really unique at all. I think they might have listened too much to what others have done and emulated them instead of finding their own voice. I think band’s that describes themselves by naming other bands always bring up the warning bells in my mind. They have a solid sound, their music is well performed and well produced but it is hard seeing anything really exciting and unique about it. A bit sparse on the variation as well, 46 minutes of playing time is not too long.

Not too impressed am I, I think they are good, that is not their problem. Their problem is their lack of innovation, sure many will not see this and think this is good and they are not wrong as it is good but so is a lot of other stuff and this cannot really be said to stand above much of that. Sure it does not stand out negatively either, we have a decent album here and I think it has been a good listen.

I think it ends better than it begins even if the best songs are in the first half of the album with the opening track H8 Ball as one of those that stand out. I also think that the fifth track Debt to Society is another one of those that stand out but then the other tracks of the first half are rather boring, it picks up towards the end but there are no standout tracks there. All in all a good effort, not the best album I’ve ever heard but not the worst either. It might be something worth checking out if you are into the thrashy groovy kind of heavy metal.

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