EP REVIEW: RULED BY RAPTORS-Silent Sound

 

England's Alt-Metal quartet Ruled by Raptors soar onto the music scene with sophomore release Silent Sound, their much-anticipated follow-up to 2019's debut EP 'Ouroboros'. Produced by highly esteemed rock music producer Romesh Dodangoda (Motorhead, Funeral for a Friend) at Longwave Studio in Cardiff, Wales, this four-track release brings huge choruses, meaty riffs and hook-laden tunes.

Formed in Newcastle, England in 2018, the band consists of the lead singer/guitarist Chris Bradley, fellow vocalist and guitarist Matthew Dewar, bassist Nick Oliver and drummer Will Robson. The band have earned rave reviews for their likeliness to Biffy Clyro and At the Drive-In. One listens to the opening track 'Waves' and I can definitely understand those comparisons. The thick soaring guitar leads, deft drumming and mix between hollow screams and catchy pop melodies sound more like a contemporary alternative to those aforementioned acts.

Next up is the radio-friendly ballad of 'Dance of Wolves'. Chris Bradley has a warm, melodic voice suited for these enchanting melodies. The accompanying backup band provide the soothing instrumentals to make this a powerful song. The emotionally-charged 'Cleftones' has some good guitar work between Bradley and Dewar but can feel a bit off with the melodies. Will Ross maintains rhythms throughout with his powerful drumming that is always kept in time. And finally, the wonderfully named 'Oxy's Moron' shows an angry and unstable side to the band. Loud, jagged vocals clash with soft vocal melodies to create a sense of conflict between the song's lighter elements and the rough, aggressive metal.

Overall, Ruled by Raptors combine metal elements with an assessable melodic sound that has its moments, but is worth a listen to fans of bands like Biffy Clyro and At the Drive-In

Rating 7.5/10

Words by Anselm Anderson.

‘Silent Sound’ EP track listing: 1) Waves, 2) Dance of Wolves, 3) Cleftones, 4) Oxy’s Moron.



SOCIAL MEDIA

https://twitter.com/RuledByRaptors

https://www.youtube.com/RuledByRaptors

https://www.facebook.com/RuledByRaptors

https://www.instagram.com/RuledByRaptors/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ChA0huT6zEg42yT3cbWlq