Ok, so I'm a sucker for inventive packaging, modes of presentation that stand out. Consequently, I can't help but be drawn by the oversized 7" x 5" slimline card cover for this release, with its paint-daubed graphics and the CD stowed in a streamlined pocket inside. It's not only well thought out and nicely designed, but it doesn't exactly give much away: there are no clues to what lies within, even so much as the genre of music to expect from Acid Majesty. Intriguing stuff.
'Last to See Me' comes on full-throttle, but is, to all intents and purposes, a fairly standard example of melodic / angry contemporary metal. I'm reluctant to say 'nu' because things have moved on, and the current vogue is for a more 'retro' guitar sound, with greater clarity than the slabs of undifferentiated, chordless slabs of all-out distortion that typified nu-metal. It's competently played, but does suffer in the mixing, with the vocals dominating the instrumentation.
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The remaining three tracks are more effectively realised, however, with the solid guitars and punchy percussion taking the lead. While still adhering to the melodic hardcore format, the ire is tangible and credible, the guitars crisp and crunchy, the rhythm section impressively tight, with 'A Little...' boasting both considerable beef and a decent, not to mention hooky, chorus. A confident and promising debut.
Acid Majesty on Myspace
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