SONS OF SENOKA „The blacksky stand alone”

Country: France
Genre: Modern metal/metalcore
Band website: www.myspace.com/sonsofsenoka
Cool songs: The blacksky stand alone,Day
Album lenght: 32:21

At last! I have awaited for a good band from France for such a long time. After a brilliant L'ESPRIT DU CLAN, finally came time for SONS OF SENOKA, andit's time for another band which plays a modern, melodic and most importantly fresh and cathy. Frankly I havent expectet that SONS OF SENOKA will be so good. I am able to even take a chance that The blacksky stand alone is a better than the last album of the more famous metioned L'ESPRIT DU CLAN. And that means we have to deal with at least a very good material.

From the beginning of the album members SONS OF SENOKA brings us very positive and very energetic music. And by no means the majority of the compositions included on the album is a very positive material, which shoukd belistened to with a wide smile on your face. I guess that concerts SONS OF SENOKA is great fun, but this was not about I wanted to write. So what actually causes this smile? First of all, the mass of different tunes, which are very well suited to the whole. The French do not necessarily contribute to violent play, fast pace is only a supplement to spatial riffage and emotional vocals. The great thing about SONS OF SENOKA is a strong rhythm, and very specific groove.

There is a very good guitarwork. Far from it, I did not notice any extraneous sounds, or any disturbing noises. To be honest if you are a fan of amazing guitar play and you like to hear tons of riff you might be dissapointed. SONS OF SENOKA is not a tech band, and to be honest you will not find as much riff's as on last GOJIRA or YYRKOON or other french bands albums, because first of all it is not the same kind of music, and each of these has different skills. All riffs which have been used to compose the album appear to be very thoughtful, what makes the listener in a like mood. Also on the plus fare well arranged alternately sung clean vocals and screams. Honestly, to admit that this time (wow!) I more like clean singing of Syl than scream of Renaud, but still I congratulate both well-recorded vocals.

As for modern metal, or metalcore as you wish, SONS OF SENOKA resigns from breakdowns. Those who expect a very solid batch of neck-breaking breakdowns probably might be dissapointed. But dont worry, there are some quite awesome slower breakdowns. In the course of listening The Blacksky Stand Alone, I get the impression that I listen to the last album of Swedish main, most popular band – IN FLAMES. I do not mean here to copy the Swedes, but in the course of dealing with the French album I hear that IN FLAMES are a sort of an inspiration for those young musicians from the land of Napoleon. Of course, one is discouraged, but others like me, are delighted and satisfied. The only thing what really annoys me is the sound of cymbals . Especially hi-hat sound is fucking awful. Definitely sounds too loud, and frankly ugly. For the rest I do not have any objections.

Summing up the new child of SONS OF SENOKA is an album that will satisfy fans of IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE or SOILWORK. Album full of melodies, emotions, sometimes even aggressive, but still cathy and easy to remember. Unfortunately, this is not the album of the year in its category, but has a chance to be a surprise of the year. And now for sure, if we talk about the European metalcore.

note: 7,5/10

Tracklist

The blacksky stand alone
Comes by the tears of gods
Day
Make cry
In vain
Pray the devil and the angel
Work in progress
Revolve
Let me down
Refused

Line-up

Renaud Hardy – scream
Sylvain Perez – guitars/clean vocals
Raphael Capdevielle – guitars
Camille Sullet – Drums
Pierre Sabirou – Bass