Infractor
www.myspace.com/infractor <http://www.myspace.com/infractor>
Music evolves. Ask anyone who listens to metal and they will probably
tell you that over time, their musical scope has expanded to encompass
other bands. But what happens when you realise you haven't evolved
enough? Do you force changes upon yourself and try to discover whats
missing from your arsenal of sonic weaponry? Or Do you, perhaps rightly
so, fear the necessary changes and stagnate in your own inability to
evolve yourself? I wish I didn't have to ask that question so early on
in the day with a severe lack of caffeine in my system, but here, before
me, is the tale of *INFRACTOR,* a Birmingham solo project turned viable
band, and its demanding my attention dammit!
It all started when *H.O.S.T.I.L.E.* vocalist *SLAG *set himself the
task of answering that very question. He had become disillusioned by
the stagnation that was setting in within his own scene. Taking a bold
step, he set about reinventing his musical outpourings, taking influence
from the heavy end of European metal's elite. Throwing componants from
each into a vast cooking pot and brewing them into a wicked concoction
combining the Speed, Melody and Power of those bands, Slag gave birth to
his project, confident in its ability to stand upon its own, head and
shoulders above anything he had previously created.
The end result hits you head on. It brings the fight to your door,
menacing the neighborhood in its wake. It struts around as if its "the
daddy!" and it wont take prisoners! Each of the songs on offer are
joyous. Each revels in its own excellence, knowing how good they are.
Each song gives a feeling of belonging, and just as with their european
infulences, each one stands resolute that it will kick your arse!
Strong riffs, stronger choruses! with enough twists and turns to give
you motion sickness!
Theres a definite nod toward their main influences in this, and SLAG
makes great use of his ability as a songwriter to mold the material to
fufill the brief. Obviously furious and ever on the attack, the music
is a wall of speed riffage and melody combined by an abrasive vocal
assault and subtleties in delivery that make each song varied and powerful.
It is a testament to their hunger and passion for the music that has
taken the steps to explore these musical leanings to the point where it
has become a viable outfit, with members, songs and everything!
Infractor have arrived, and the very fact we are now here with a 4 song
demo that proves change can be a good thing, I think, is reason enough
that Infractor should be on your list of bands to check out.
/Digideus
Union Black (www.unionblack.co.uk)
Where the Underground stirs....
/
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deathdoom.freeforums.org/infractor-visions-of-suffering-album-sampler-t198.html#210
INFRACTOR
"Visions Of Suffering" - Album Sampler
1. Discorporated
2. A Violent Urge
3. Way Of The Locust
4. Momentary Pain & Distress
Although only an album sampler and no the full blown item, you can get a real sense of the destruction and carnage wielded by Birmingham thrash and death metallers Infractor. Putting a small handful of well performed ambient interludes aside, this is a crushing display of powerful music, technical and fearsome all at the same time. The variance in styles is a real apitizer for the forthcoming album and shows a great diversity to the band who arn't afraid to show their more delicate side, al be it wedged firmly between sledgehammer like riff-age. All in all a great sneak peek at what is to come.
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www.chopmusic.co.uk
Infractor. Thanks to the vocalist (and it turns out lyricist and songwriter) Slag (!!) for the setlist. I dread to think how good this lot would sound given time to prepare rather than the short notice they got for this gig. When asked what style they played, the keyboard player, Greg, and bassist, Dan, were strangely cagey. Thanks for letting me try to explain!! Technical extreme modern prog would be about as close as I can get. They are a seven piece band, also incorporating a drummer and three guitarists in their ranks. Have to single out the seven string guitarist; he takes on the majority of the lead work and boy can he shred! One solo in particular was stunning as everyone's dropped jaws attested. Immensely brutal at times generating a wall of sound (even with the drumkit only being partially mic-ed), then playing delicate sections the next, their songs are intricate and meticulously crafted. Setlist tonight was "Discorporated", "A Violent Urge", "Addict Down", "27 Or Dead", "Way Of The Locust" and "Momentary Pain & Distress". Keep playing sets like this and they will create a tsunami rather than a ripple in the extreme world - phenomenal display. Fellas keep me posted and I will come and see you again soon.
The Reanimator crew have unearthed another gem in Infractor, dazzling display.
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www.obliveon.de/pn-om/modules.php
Translation:
Why be frustrated when everything is fine? Slag, self appointed front man of the Birmingham Heavy Metal Hostile (compare the review here), had simply, at some time or other, had enough of the unsigned status of the underground band and decided – completely separate from any possible previous models and from his Band Hostile – to create something new. The only condition was that the music had to be be as brutal and aggressive as it was melodic, and that the typical riffs of this genre of band should be avoided. I can report from the 4 track Album Sampler for “Visions of Suffering” (appearing in 2008) here in front of me that the master has totally succeeded in achieving this. Master Slag claims responsibility himself on this recording not only for the vocals, but also for the ensemble of instruments (Guitar, Bass, Keyboards) and programming the drums. “Discorporated” opens the proceedings with furious riffs and aggressive vocals, accompanied simultaneously by a wonderful Chorus . And in line with this, the brutal approach which gives equal attention attention to a certain melodiousness, does not get not clumsily wiped away. And nevertheless, Slag demonstrates great musical variety on this album sampler. “A Violent Urge” begins and ends with interesting keyboard sounds, “Way of the Locusts” contains generous passages of progressive metal playing, which lends the song that certain something, whilst “Momentary Pain & Distress” begins, in its first notes, very gloomily in fact, but then finishes with pure rage and in the middle kicks down two or three gears and the singing is very appropriate (to the rest of the music at any one point). In short, Infractor incorporates the the best characteristics of Thrash, MeloDeath, and to an extent Hardcore and the full album should become one of the surprise UK hits of the year 2008.
Original German:
Wozu Frustration doch alles gut ist! Slag, seines Zeichens Frontmann der Birminghamer Prog-Metaller Hostile (vgl. dortiges Review), hatte einfach irgendwann die Schnauze voll vom Status der unsigned Underground-Bands und beschloss – völlig losgelöst von möglichen Vorbildern und seiner Band Hostile – etwas neues zu kreieren. Als Vorgabe stand nur, dass die Musik gleichermaßen brutal, aggressiv als auch melodisch sein musste und das typische Riffing der durchschnittlichen Genre-Bands vermieden werden sollte. Mit dem mir vorliegenden 4-Track-Album-Sampler zu „Visions Of Suffering“ (wird 2008 erscheinen) ist zu vermelden, dass dem Meister dies absolut gelungen ist. Meister Slag zeichnet sich auf diesen Aufnahmen nicht nur für den Gesang verantwortlich, sondern auch für sämtliche Instrumente (Guitar, Bass, Keys) als auch das Programmieren der Drums. „Discorporated“ eröffnet den Reigen mit furiosem Riffing und aggressivem Gesang, bei gleichzeitig wundervoll melodischem Refrain. Und von dieser Linie, also der brutalen Ausrichtung mit gleichzeitigem Augenmerk auf eine gewisse Melodiosität, wird nicht großartig abgewichen. Und trotzdem stellt Slag auf diesem Album-Sampler eine großartige Varibialität zur Schau. „A Violent Dirge“ etwa wird von interessanten Keyboard-Klängen ein- und ausgeleitet, „Way Of The Locusts“ beinhaltet eine großzügige Prog-Spielerei, die dem Song das gewisse Etwas verleiht, während „Momentary Pain & Distress“ zwar mit den ersten Töne doomig beginnt, sich dann aber der puren Raserei ergibt und im Mittelteil zwei bis drei Gänge zurückschaltet und der Gesang sich dem hervorragend anpasst. Kurzum: Infractor vereint die besten Elemente aus Thrash, MeloDeath und etwas Hardcore in sich und das volle Album dürfte einer der Überraschungshämmer des Jahres 2008 von der Insel werden. www. infractormusic. com ; www. myspace. com/infractor
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