Kev Rowland
This is the fifth album from these guys, but somehow it is the first time I have come across them. I have seen their music described as metalcore, post-hardcore and emo amongst others, but there are times when they have an almost symphonic feel to what they are doing as well, even with just a small amount of keys. This quartet comprises Alexia Rodriguez (vocals, guitar & keyboards), her sister Anissa Rodriguez (bass), Cisko Miranda (screams, live guitar) and Caleb Clifton - drums & samples. What sets this album apart from the rest, is not that there are sisters in a metal band (which is somewhat unusual it has to be said, I can’t think of it happening very often – and the Wilson girls don’t count) but what we have here is a group that is somehow mixing melodic metal with extreme stylings and creating something that is quite different.
These guys rock, I mean they really rock, but Alexia sings like an angel over the top of them with plenty of power and passion and when Cisko comes to the party they turn into a different animal altogether. Here is a band that sound totally genuine whatever they are doing, and they manage to bring a groove and catchiness to the music that is going to definitely be picked up by fans of bands as diverse as Lacuna Coil and Sepultura. They have taken the female/male vocal interplay to a whole new level and have delivered an album that is polished, immediate, with hidden depths and real sense of sincerity. If like me you haven’t come across these guys before then now is the time to discover them.