Threat Signal – Threat Signal

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Threat Signal’s last album Vigilance, whilst an otherwise fine album, did not have a strong production to support it. So it is with some relief that the band’s self-titled third album does a lot to smooth over the band’s rough edges. First and foremost, the questionable production of Vigilance has gone, replaced with a much more punchy sound. Singer Jon Howard has also curbed his clean singing in favour of much more growling. The clean singing is still present, but is used more sparingly. This gives much more weight to these more melodic parts, and there’s more diversity as to how the growling parts are delivered. This leads to a collection of songs that are far less easy to compare with mainstream American metal, and share more in common with European melodeath. That being said, the most noteworthy comparison on Threat Signal’s sound on this album is former touring partners Mnemic. This is especially apparent with the vocal delivery, which is incredibly similar to that of former Mnemic singer Michael Bøgballe. There are notable differences between the two bands though and that’s where this album really starts to shine. The guitar work is mesmerizing and overtly technical, and not just in the solos. The riffs are intense and hypnotic, ever changing and yet still very imaginative and compelling, whilst still forming fast and strangely catchy melodic death songs. Whilst some of the solos are atypical heavy metal fare – though certainly very good in that regard – occasionally the band’s riffing style evolves into ‘soloing’ with utterly staggering results, best exemplified by the ‘solo’ on Face The Day. Whether you want to call the band melodeath, metalcore, djent or whatever, this latest effort should not be ignored by petty genre prejudices, as with this album Threat Signal have finally proven what they are capable of.

Written by James Donovan
More: 2011, Albums, Death Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Threat Signal