Russell HughesBorders – Diagnosed (Self Release)
Genre: Technical/Progressive Metal
Borders have experienced a good 12 months having performed for audiences across the country at festivals like Moth On The Tyne, Deadbolt and UK Tech-Fest.
Now they’re back a new vocalist, a new style and a new EP. Diagnosed tackles some of the most pressing issues of the day such as mental health, corruption, media manipulation and pharmaceutical companies who are only out to serve their own ends.
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It’s just a shame, then, that his message can sometimes get lost within Jordan ‘JJ’ Olifent’s raw and bruising screams. All those themes are buried deep down inside the music, it just takes a keen ear and some patience to be able to unlock them.
However, Olifent is well backed up by the rest of his band as they take their progressive, technical grooves and push it to the next level. While that does leave some songs feeling slightly disjointed in places, the whole effect of the EP is one of a blistering wall of sound that feels as angry as the lyrics are.
Diagnosed starts off as it means to continue with the raucous Analyst that features a guttural warning from Olifent and a meanderingly brutal guitar breakdown from Gav Burton.
While Indoctrinated and Watch The World Burn are peppered with the familiar anger, interspaced with the same sort of technical style that the Lincoln locals opened with.
Aside from that, there are a few moments for the listener to get their teeth into – but they’re spaced out over the course of the four songs. Without a real standout tune, they tend to blend into each other slightly.
Borders are a band that isn’t going to give an inch and every single song on this EP shows that. They’ve evolved since their last record, but that’s a slow process. Maybe they’ve got more in their locker and their next release will show further progress.
RUSHONROCK RATED: 6/10 Problem diagnosed.
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