{"id":58628,"date":"2018-04-05T22:43:55","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T21:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=58628"},"modified":"2018-07-08T12:46:04","modified_gmt":"2018-07-08T11:46:04","slug":"review-halo-tora-man-of-stone-first-chapter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-halo-tora-man-of-stone-first-chapter\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Halo Tora \u2013 Man of Stone: First Chapter"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Dancing on the lines between prog and post-rock, Scottish quintet\u00a0Halo Tora<\/strong> have returned to expand on the brooding sound of their debut album. Having surfaced on the European festival circuit (including a milestone Arctangent performance) and numerous tours, \u2018Man Of Stone: First Chapter\u2019<\/em> is an important step forward in the band’s career with their ever-growing audience. It could prove to be their make-or-break project.<\/p>\n

\u2018Always the Last To Know\u2019<\/em> is a solid start \u2013 but it\u2019s the band sounding their safest. It\u2019s a tried-and-tested alt-rock song (an excellent example of one at that) that has everything you might expect. Chunky guitar riffs, dramatic singing and almost theatrical drumming all come together to make a tightly packed reminder that they know the mould before they decide to try and break it.<\/p>\n

While \u2018Fractured\u2019<\/em> is a sonic step away. It\u2019s a melancholy, emotional ballad which shows off some impressive lyricism and vocal talents. Aided by the barebones guitar and supportive strings, it’s carried with\u00a0a real sense of significance.\u00a0\u2018Unthank\u2019<\/em> also runs on that trend of emotive, gentle alt-rock but switches it back halfway through, bursting into an epic, noise-filled finale that feels much more familiar to the band. Glimmering keys bounce off gritty guitar riffs and soaring vocals keep pushing the sound forward.
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