Stranglehold - Elemental (UK 1998)

GJ · Post by GJ » Fri May 07, 2010 12:29 pm

I rarely provide anything around here, but rediscovered this one the other day and thought it to be a quite decent one. Certainly not of the usual late nineties british kind style-wise. In fact pretty original stuff if you ask me with skilled songwriting, containing rather busy riffing whilst the singer delivers, both in sound and phrasing, vocal lines that might resemble Harry Conklin, albeit with less muscles (and, dare I say, more warmth). For some reason the bassist also plays keyboards throughout most of the record resulting in a rather muddled sound which made me think of the old bible-bashing US cultsters Messiah. Haha! I should try hyping bands more often! Still, you might want to check them out.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MWA24MGF

Barely any info on metal archives

GJ · Post by GJ » Fri May 07, 2010 12:51 pm

Maybe I should add that they may appeal to those into more progressive US Metal like Heir Apparent or Lethal...

Ernest Thesiger · Post by **Ernest Thesiger** » Fri May 07, 2010 1:44 pm

Cheers!

Metalhunter · Post by **Metalhunter** » Sat May 08, 2010 12:01 am

Amazing cd and worth to keep an eye on it...btw, a review and cd details on www.metal-treasures.com

...sorry DAN for doin a bit of promotion here

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Sun May 09, 2010 8:04 pm

Description sounds promising, but the year of release is 1998 so I don't hold my expectations extremely high. Will check it out soon. Thanks for the upload.

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Tue May 11, 2010 2:41 pm

I'm listening to it now, sounds interesting although this style demands repeated listens to get into it. Definitely on the 'cleaner' side of US prog/power, reminds me of SAVATAGE, GLACIER of the 2nd demo and stuff like that, they don't sound british at all. You're right about the vocalist, he brings The Tyrant to mind, but he's way more restrained, I don't hear any vocal acrobatics. Can't say something definitive right now, will listen to it more carefully within the next days, but it sounds good on the first listen.

rumblefist · Post by **rumblefist** » Mon May 17, 2010 1:17 am

Thanks for sharing !
The keyboards and the production are too modern but for a british band in 1999 it's good stuff, specially the singer !

Warepire · Post by **Warepire** » Mon May 17, 2010 1:23 am

Thanks a ton, this sounds really interesting!