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ALBUM REVIEW
- For Ruin - Last Light
- Self Released
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- Ireland’s For Ruin have been
building power like a patient but inevitably destructive earthquake for a good five years
now, with some shudders on the fault line raising heads after 2007’s "December",
and a great deal more rumbling activity once teaser EP "Enlightened"
reached the scene’s ears earlier this year. The band required a city-destroying
effort to build upon this momentum, and consensus on "Last Light" must be
that they’ve well and truly delivered this catastrophe. Bigger, better, faster,
louder and a hell of a lot shinier than its predecessor, the reverberations of this album
should have people sitting up and taking notice on a far wider scale than before.
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- In terms of style, For Ruin are an
incredibly difficult beast to pin down, but where this gives some bands a vagueness of
purpose, it is instead For Ruin’s strength. Unable to base your predictions of their
song-writing on any one over-riding influence, you have to shut up and enjoy the ride,
which, because you cry when I don’t tell you, is a potent combination of melodic
black and death metal with progressive rock and a rather more modern, technical American
influence. The first thing that strikes the listener, after the pretty, skilful acoustic
wanderings that colour the beginning of "Enlightened" is the sheer
tightness of this musical outfit. There’s plenty of pace on "Last Light",
couple with an ability to mingle a number of different movements into one composition, as
with the contrast between muscular slowness and chaotic outbursts on "In
Suffering", and the skill of For Ruin’s drummer and guitarists allows this
to sound sophisticated rather than run-of-the-mill.
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- "Last Light" has a
fevered vibe, with the opening of "Decline" feeling like it packs that
punch of energy and direction that Satyricon delivered with "Now, Diabolical",
although former stage-fellows Rotting Christ are a far better comparison, with their less
rooted approach to song-writing. It’s also an album that is unafraid of guitar
theatrics, so long as they are rabid and genuinely METAL, as can be witnessed in the
strikingly devastating lead work of "Recoil", the dissonant duality of "Decline"
and the beautiful, cascading solo that decorates "Cold Call".
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- That there are so many aspects that
remain to be mentioned – the harsh but fitting low growl of the vocals, the creative
and strong use of bass, the key trickery, the sheer weight of some of the sections –
is testament to how varied and accomplished "Last Light" is; there’s
always something more to notice, and to reward repeat visits. Closer "Elysium"
is enough in itself to have me coming back again, as it sees the band hit the gorgeous
mixture of warm melodic lead, deep chugging depths and unhindered vocals that they’d
been hinting at all along. In all, a very refreshing listen, beautifully presented and
worthy of far-ranging impact.
- 78/100
- Ellen Simpson
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- www.myspace.com/forruinband
- www.forruin.com
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