Admittedly, I am not that well versed in Godsticks previous four albums so upon listening to Inescapable, their newest release, I really wasn’t sure what to expect.
Overall, its use of instrumentation and vocal harmonies are quite impressive. If you’re into modern-day progressive metal acts like Circles and TesseracT, then Inescapable should be your next quarantine go-to album.
Vocalist Darran Charles highlights an accomplished range, transitioning from a Maynard James Keenan style harmonies highlighted throughout the album to a much deeper grunge approach on ‘Surrender.’
Godsticks have the instrumentation and technique to be a highly admired progressive metal act, but I do feel that as well of meticulous and chauvinistic intricacies being the bread and butter of prog-metal, a top-notch production is equally important for listeners to be able to hone in on those components and at times I felt the mixing of ‘Inescapable’ to be slightly muddled.
The guitar and rhythm sections maintain the prog sound throughout but do tend to branch out into slightly nu-metal and rock elements. With the opening to ‘Change,’ or the simmering bridge (which is actually an album highlight for me) akin to work by acts such as System of a Down.
I noticed that as the album went on it gradually becomes softer and more ambient in its approach which gives it quite a unique flow, however, this is so underlying due to the album continually changing and winding riffs and percussion.
Check out the release below.
4/5
Kscope
Reviewed by Alex Callan
