Believer – Gabriel

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For listeners who always thought Faith No More could be just a little bit more metal, Believer’s complex, challenging but heavy brand of metal should be just right. Less weird than Tool, less extreme than Cynic, heavier than most, with definite thrash over-tones in both the riffs and vocals (although not the throat-shredding wails of Mille Petrozza, Schmier or Steve Souza, for instance). Gabriel is an unbelievably enthralling record. Believer have accomplished the difficult feat of combining complexity and genuine songs on every track. The Need For Conflict is a stand-out track, but to say so is almost unfair on the rest. The vibe on each track is different, from the out-and-out thrash of Focused Lethality, to the sing-along chorus of Shut Out The Sun amidst it’s progressive riffs, the massively heavy The Need For Conflict or the guest appearance by Killswitch Engage‘s Howard Jones on an ever-shifting The Brave, every turn is unique and brilliant. The album could have done without the closing six minutes of effects and noodling in the unlisted tracks following epic Nonsense Mediated Decay, but otherwise this is flawless intellectual metal, and already a contender for album of the year. Sure to feature in end-of-year top tens everywhere.

Written by Andy Lye
More: Albums, Progressive, Quick.Play Reviews, Thrash Metal, Believer