Hemoptysis - Who Needs a Shepherd? E.P.

March 9, 2009

Reviewer: Ilmarinen

Listening to Hemoptysis is a multi faceted experience. Curiously I am not referring to the music itself. It is somewhat challenging in an all together different way than I initially anticipated. How do you approach a band's debut, do you rank it the same way as you would a well established group? Would you compare a new band to seasoned veterans of the genre in your search for objectivity? Do you rather look for potential that may be buried in an otherwise unremarkable record? A new band is like a new baby in a way, and as with any newborn it has to be tested for any illnesses that may plague it, and if any exist, eradicate them early on, so that it can go on to have a healthy and productive future. In other words, a future of anyone or anything is only as good as its willingness to rise above its genesis, break out of its shell, and adapt to the environment. Keeping this in mind, and having spun the record close to a dozen times, I set out to do a review that attempts to look at the potential problems rather than the potential greatness that this band, without a doubt, will one day achieve.

For Hemoptysis all the ingredients are already there. The vocalist has impressive control. The guitars skills are undisputed, and the drummer certainly knows what he is doing. Arai's bass, however, is difficult to pick up on in the mix. This is unfortunate, as the bass adds a certain reality to the sound, and nowhere quite as obvious as in the extreme metal niche. Overall, the band creates a reasonably distinct and pleasant impression, though not without some apparent flaws.

First, on the positive note, an observation, their influence, which, at least to an outsider (meaning, not a band member) rings true of an 80's Bay Area thrash scene. Some guitar hooks are straight out of an early thrash explosion of three decades past with maybe some hints of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest for good measure. Chugging rhythm on the other hand, a constant undercurrent, is vaguely reminiscent of the late and great The Crown. Thune's drums alternate between thudding death metal stylings, and, during slower passages, bring to mind Richard Christy's work for Iced Earth. Murashita's growls are well timed and expertly executed. Sounds enticing? Well, therein lies the rub. As I've stated before, all the ingredients are there, but altogether it all comes off just a little bit thin.

Musically, it's a hybrid,  a mixed bag of old school thrash accented by neo-classical leads,  held together by the omni-present death metal rhythm and supported by a frenetic drum work. All five tracks are on equal ground in composition and execution. The problem, as it stands out upon several listens, is the approach. The arrangements seem a little too sparse; there is simply not enough meat to sink your teeth into. There are no layers here; this record is glaringly one dimensional. Each track, for the most part, has one signature hook, one underlying rhythm, and a few of solos to break the tension. There is almost a feeling of separate performances that were pasted together as an afterthought, ala Metallica’s much beleaguered and now infamous, St. Anger. As one works his way through this EP, there is a growing sense of a formula that is either an unfortunate byproduct of inexperience or a deliberate lack of willingness to produce a thicker, more diverse sound; especially considering that there are not one but two guitarists in the band and the synergy between them is sadly, in absentia. It is impossible to tell which it is, but one hopes that it is the former, because the talent is very obviously there, though perhaps lacking a bit of confidence and compositional polish at this time.

Release Date:  2008
Label: None / Self Released

TRACK LISTING

1. Shadow of Death
2. Who Needs a Shepherd?
3. And the World Dies
4. All for You
5. A Traitor

Total playing time: 22:31

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