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Strange, this one, and not because the band itself is so far afield that I can’t make sense of it all, but rather because of the chasm between what the band thinks it is and what it actually is. To wit: Singapore’s Thy Fallen Kingdom anoints itself with a black (or maybe Christian) metal name, a traditional metal pedigree, a thrash and death metal influence and comes out the other side sounding like... early metalcore? Really now? I mean, sure, I can hear traces of Slayer and Exodus, not to mention some spiraling guitar riffs and solos (and a tandem-lead break on “The Last Day” that reeks of power metal plagiarism, though I’m at a loss as to which band or song), but there’s something about this that seems so bolted-to-the-floor and rudimentary. It’s not just the gruff yet flat vocal barks of token white guy Dave (no last name, just like Madonna!), which aspire to be Zetro Sousa (Exodus) but wind up like Gary Meskill (Pro--Pain). There’s just a lack of momentum. It’s recorded well, it’s performed more than capably by all parties involved, but it’s so tragically mundane. Prove me wrong down the road, fellas. Astonish me. I know you can. I mean, you name-check Rainbow AND Suffocation. There’s nothing you can’t do, right?
| Tracklist |
| 1. Neverending War |
| 2. Unchained |
| 3. All That Is Left |
| 4. The Last Day |
| 5. The Observer |
: 22:43
| Buy other Thy Fallen Kingdom albums |
