Lead Us Forth - Album Review: Interlocutor
interlocutor
ˌɪntəˈlɒkjʊtə/
nounformal
noun: interlocutor; plural noun: interlocutors; noun: interlocutrix; plural noun: interlocutrices
1 a person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation.
Creating
a dialogue is certainly what it feels like Auckland metal outfit Lead Us
Forth are trying to achieve right from the outset of their latest album Interlocutor. Released at the beginning of May 2016 this is a tasty morsel
of pulsating heavy grooves, catchy melodies, and serene soundscapes.
In the absence of an official press release it is difficult to determine where the album was recorded or by whom, but whoever did the work made a great job of it as the production is crisp, big, round, tight and heavy, resulting in a huge step up from 2013’s EP The Wayward. The vocals are well recorded, guitars are down-tuned, dark and heavy, which is right where they should be for this style of music, and the rhythm section is it’s own living, breathing, syncopated monster.
Featuring Kent Hartmann on vocals, Luke Welten on lead guitar, Josiah Bovill on rhythm guitar (whom recorded and mixed the album in his West Auckland bedroom), Tom Yates on drums, and Jared Kerr on bass, Lead Us Forth have made their bed firmly within the realms of the metalcore/techmetal/prog genre that is becoming ever so popular internationally. The band stays true to their cited influences with moments of Periphery, Tessaract and Karnivool all shining through as well as sprinkling of Monuments. Interlocutor is brimming with Meshuggah-esque breakdowns, ambient interludes (complete with Milton-cleans on Logos), guttural growls, clean vocal choruses, and a high standard of technical playing from all members across the board.
A few standout moments are the first track The Chosen Path, the huge syncopated breakdown on track 5 Foundations, and some handy guitar playing on the solo in Awakening. I really like the fact that while this is a heavy record there is some layering of multi-instrumentation with strings, bells, and piano all featuring throughout.
Lyrically the album is very deep and clearly the band have spent some time thinking about the content of their songs and the message they are putting across. To quote from the bands biography “a desire to speak out a message of hope and encouragement from a platform of intelligent and intense music”, these guys have certainly achieved their goal.
I would definitely be interested in seeing these guys pull this off live and they are an exciting prospect for the NZ metalcore/techmetal/prog scene. The Interlocutor is a solid offering, well executed, and stacks up to most of the similar stuff coming out of the UK, US, and Europe. I will be following these guys to see where they go next.
About Lead Us Forth
Each of the members of Lead Us Forth come from various backgrounds of musical influence, spanning jazz and gospel to hardcore and various forms of metal. They strive to bring to the table a sound that is fresh and also incorporates elements which lie outside the box of what is traditionally metal. Offering crushing riffs, and memorable grooves, Lead Us Forth is an upcoming band that demands attention.
Common factors that unite humanity are their experiences, their losses, victories, hopes and failures, and within the lyrics of Lead Us Forth lies a resounding call that even in the midst of brokenness and darkness, the light of redemption and purpose can be found. The journey of a band endeavouring to take its music to the masses is not a road easy to travel, but it is one that Lead Us Forth has chosen to embark on with resolve and purpose.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Lead Us Forth
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