Sonic Prophecy ended a four year recording exile in 2015 when they issued their second full length record, Apocalyptic Promenade. They haven’t made us wait quite as long for record number three, with the American heavy metal five piece due to drop Savage Gods shortly.
The title track opens our hour long excursion with a heavy, mid tempo build up decorated by some nice lead work from guitar duo Darrin Goodman and Sebastian Martin. Shane Provstgaard’s commanding vocals soon make their presence felt in combo with an ominous, “South of Heaven” style guitar lick. You feel like the song is working towards a crescendo, but it never quite gets there, with the track ultimately becoming stale and repetitive before it ends. “Night Terror” is a slightly better effort, with a bit more energy and a decent vocal hook, before the one two punch of “Unholy Blood” and “Dreaming of the Storm” takes things up a notch. The former utilises melody to good effect throughout (particularly in the verses), whilst the latter’s rocking riffs, shifting dynamics and marvellous, emotive vocals are likely to leave a lasting impression. However, it becomes apparent at this point that Sonic Prophecy have shown their hand far too early, with vary little to no variance or surprises to be found in their song writing approach. A large number of tracks are stuck in mid paced territory, and whilst that is not a problem if the song writing is incredibly strong, Savage Gods unfortunately does not have that luxury. Only “Iron Clad Heart” dares break the mould, and whilst a solid heavy metal number, it does run a little too long for its own good.
Provstgaard opts for a gruffer approach on “Man the Guns”, itself a rougher cut than what’s been exhibited before, built around simple, chugging triplets and a melodic guitar lead that works in unison with the vocal line to craft a catchy chorus. Provstgaard also seizes the chance to lead “Walk Through the Fire” in light of the bland riff work, whereas “Prayer Before Battle”‘s pointed guitar work has more edge than much of the record. The tranquil closing passage of “Man and Machine” lifts an otherwise mediocre stomp, with the bouncy riffs and generally more upbeat demeanour of “Chasing the Horizon” ending the record on a high note.
Taken in isolation, Savage Gods is a decent record, with some fine musicianship on display throughout. When taken in the context of a competitive and crowded heavy metal market however, it falls flat against superior competition. Simply put, it is far too ordinary and one dimensional to stand out. All things considered, it’s not one to actively avoid, but not one to seek out either, unless you’re really craving as much heavy metal as your mind could conceivably muster.
Rating:
Highlights: “Unholy Blood”, “Dreaming of the Storm”, “Chasing the Horizon”
Find Sonic Prophecy online:
Facebook / Twitter / Official Website
Savage Gods is available worldwide on January 19th via Rockshots Records, and can be purchased here.
