Up-Load UK, Gigs News & reviews Red Son Rising, Nerve Engine

Red Son Rising by Nerve Engine
Released October 2005 by Outer Circle Records

Leeds metallers make stunning rebirth

If you’ve ever heard “Underneath The Sprawl”, Nerve Engine’s debut release you might be surprised by the unremitting assault that this new EP provides. Whereas “..Sprawl” was a sometimes riff laden, sometimes-ambient soundscape with huge spaces that would draw you in before bursting into a flash of energy “Red Son Rising” is a balls out rocker with catchy hooks, bouncing bass lines and solid raging guitars that would not be out of place on a Pantera or Machine Head album.

Opening track One Chance starts with a burst of guitars and drums that fall on your head like a slab of metal from a crane. A driving beat keeps things pumping along nicely with a riff that you just can’t resist banging your head to. A catchy chorus and hook lines “I see a Red Son Rising, it’s time to take control” “One chance to make it happen, one chance to be alive”. A nice solo cements the whole song together and it makes for a great opening track.

Phoenix starts out with an acoustic guitar, the only concession to the “…Sprawl” style soundscape before being sidelined by a staccato pounding from the drums and guitars. “Spread your wings & fly away” urges vocalist Kris “Take these words and go”. Perhaps the new direction of the band, heavier and darker symbolised as a rebirth and with a transition from old to new. Or perhaps I’m reading too much into it. Either way, it’s a great track.

Never See Me Fall has me thinking of Panic Cell. The opening track at recent live shows, drums pound and guitars scythe as Kris’s vocals soar across it all. “You’ve always been there by my side, you’ll never seen me fall” he promises with such conviction that you never doubt it.

Opening with an Alice In Chains style bass riff and snake like guitar, the opening vocal line of Rise “Slip the noose around your neck, Slide the cord over your skin” hisses out before the chorus soars into optimism with “Rise up to what's inside, bring the calm back from the storm, Take a leap from what you hide”.

My Own has an upbeat catchy start, and intersperses a soaring chorus of “my life, my own, for me” with a bouncy verse and a nice chuggy middle section.

Professionally produced by guitarist/vocalist Mark Burrows, this release shows a direction that seems to fit Nerve Engine both on disc and in the live environment. Much as I like “Underneath The Sprawl”, this EP is a much more visceral and satisfying collection of tunes. See them and buy it, you know it makes sense…

http://www.nerveengine.com/
One Chance and Never See Me Fall can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/nerveengine/

Nerve Engine:
Kris Allen – Vocals
David Diley – Guitar
Mark Burrows – Guitar & Vocals
Iain Hodges – Bass
Andy Richards – Drums

Produced by Mark Burrows

Track List
One Chance
Phoenix
Never See Me Fall
Rise
My Own