Feature: Reading Metal Scene > <
Music scenes have always provided the perfect environment for bands to thrive and develop their sound as they build their fan base and gain essential live experience. Often in towns and cities a particular genre will thrive more than others, and for Reading's local music scene, that genre is metal.
Reading has delivered some of the best metal bands in the country over last few years - Exit Ten, Sylosis, The Arusha Accord, Malefice and Viatrophy have all come out of Reading's metal scene, but each also have their own signature sound. If you've picked up a copy of Karrang, Rock Sound or Metal Hammer in the last year chances are you'll know some or all of these guys. But how does one town (yes city status was rejected, boo) become home to five of the UK's best metal bands?
These bands have grown up playing together; playing in the same clubs, sharing equipment and occasionally members. The metal scene has been a community where bands are pushing each other to make the best music possible. And Reading clubs, such as Face Bar and the newly open Sub-89, have provided the ideal setting for such bands to grow into the brutal powerhouses they are today. Each one now has numerous big name tours under their belts and each has delivered an album that's been critically acclaimed in the alternative press.
Rivmixx's Chris Ecclestone takes a closer look at the bands booming in Reading..
Exit Ten - Metal/Rock/Progressive
'Resume Ignore'
This five piece bring together a crushing metal tone with the singing talents of Ryan Redman - that's right, this is a metal band with singing. But instead of the pop metal nonsense that will inevitably come rushing to mind, these boys are heavy - not surprising either, considering their influences include Killswitch Engage and In Flames. Redman's vocals add a real breath of fresh air to a genre that's rife with cliché's and mediocre bands. Citing Jeff Buckley and Thom Yorke as inspiration, his vocals go where you won't expect and are delivered with pure precision and emotion. Exit Ten perform as well live as they do on their recordings too; their sound is down to their talent and not recording studio trickery.
Malefice - Thrash/Heavy Metal/Death Metal
'Architect Of Your Demise'
Like a metal band version of Ronsil these boys do exactly what they say on the tin. They deliver no gimmicks metal and have taken the hard route of relentless touring; choosing to be judged on their sound and not on skin tight jeans or slick hair cuts (yes, that sort of thing happens in metal too). This has paid off, with the band recently signing to Metal Blade Records - home to the likes of Unearth - to release their latest album 'Dawn Of Reprisal'. The guys have also been busy recording a live set for their first Live DVD. Malefice have a raw sound and a tone reminiscent of the legendary Pantera; crunchy riffs, pounding drums and brutal vocals. If you like your metal big, heavy and without gimmicks then this is the band for you.
Sylosis - Thrash/Metal/Progressive
'After Lifeless Years'
For nearly a decade, one band that has been a constant in the Reading metal scene is Sylosis. Although that sounds like an awful movie tagline it's also true. Formed in 2000 these guys been making thrash metal for a while and it shows - their songs show a real understanding of the genre, not just in the songwriting but also in the high level of musicianship on display. Josh Middleton's guitar solos will no doubt have guitar geeks busy for a while. Having signed with major label power house Nuclear Blast and released the awesome 'Conclusion Of An Age', not to mention touring with the shred kings Dragon Force, these guys have a lot ahead of them.
The Arusha Accord - Metal/Progressive/Experimental/Tech
'Night of the Long Knives'
Having recently released their debut album 'The Echoe Verses' to rave reviews, the Arusha Accord are making a big impression on the metal scene with their brand of tech metal. They're making so much of an impression, in fact, that they've already been compared to tech metal masters The Dillinger Escape Plan and Sikth. And that's despite their young age. This six piece has been busy building a dedicated following through touring; blowing audiences away with their intense live shows. The Arusha Accord, and their immense musicianship, look set to become the new top dogs of tech metal.
Viatrophy - Death Metal/Ambient/Progressive
'Sufferance'
Viatrophy have been a huge presence on the Reading metal scene for a while. Their brutal death metal doses often create a frenzy with the audience. And live shows often resulting with bits of ceiling littering the venue, literally. Their eponymous debut album has gained great reviews across the alternative music press, with frantic drum blasts, gut wrenching vocals and immense guitars Viatrophy without doubt stand out as “ones to watch”.
Written by: Chris Ecclestone
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