Richard HolmesBushwhacker – The False Dilemma (Self-released)
Genre: Extreme Metal
Never head of Bushwhacker? That’s probably going to change, given the majesty of their second full-length. It’s an album that’s going to make the metal world sit up and take notice, and while we might not have another Mastodon on our hands, we certainly have an extremely talented act who deserve to rise very quickly.
Why? Well there’s the Canadians’ ability to marry their progressive elements to focused, sharp songwriting, as we see in the stunning Dead Man’s Waltz, or there’s the sheer, monumental power of their riffs, from the thrashed up offering on Shikadance to the free flowing meanderings of The Tower. And in The Return, they’ve written a song so dramatic, so mesmeric, that it could carry this release on its own.
The False Dilemma is also an album in the truest sense of the word, a seamless voyage which holds your attention throughout, changing pace, twisting emotions and exploring new ideas as it unfolds.
But in essence, Bushwhacker’s best trick is mixing an array of styles together to create their own distinctive alloy, a sound that is genuinely 21st century and should appeal to a broad spectrum of the rock community, from hardened death metallers to prog hounds and tech-heads.
Why this quartet aren’t signed yet is anyone’s guess…
RUSHONROCK RATED: 8.5/10 True Class