UK metalcore is one of the most vibrant scenes around right now, and the debut from Aurora certainly adds their name to that ever-growing list of top quality bands. Their switch to a male vocal in Rhys Whitehouse (ex WolveXhys), whose style maybe owes more to death metal than traditional hardcore, has helped Aurora embrace their heavy side and helps them stand out from the pack.

Although ‘Perseverance’ opens like a movie soundtrack, the assault soon begins and we get treated to multiple riffs and time changes with some subtle bass touches, the hard-assed ‘Faith/Breaker’ and the hook filled ‘Scriptures’ following in similar vein. In fact, they squeeze a lot into every track; ‘The Obsessor’ and ‘Rain Dance’ being equally intense.

However, when they slow things down or take a more straightforward approach, as on the mid-tempo ‘Cold Hearts’ and the ballad-y bonus track ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ which really is a bonus, they work even better; both sounding very accomplished; sometimes less is more.

All in all, it’s well worth investing some time to get your ears around everything happening on ‘Faith/Breaker’. It’s an intensely complex album that rides like a rollercoaster with the occasional straight section that really purrs.

4/5

‘Faith/Breaker’ by Aurora is out now on In At The Deep End Records.

Aurora links: Facebook|Twitter

Words by Edward Layland (@EdwardLayland)