William English – Basic Human Error


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In the Kingdom of the Unflinching Scream, the unflinching screamer is King. Not necessarily a bad thing of course, but when that abrasive yaroo dwarfs all other contributions, it becomes the most notable aspect of a sound for all the wrong reasons.

Take William English. From the outset of début album Basic Human Error (Grandad), their base sound is graced by tortured, high-pitched screams that, aside from brief periods such as the broken-down Metalcore section of opener ‘Bud Vessel’, are maintained at painful levels. ‘Life Of A Fisherman’ begins with a Doom-like, maudlin riff before a staccato groove finally introduces the Sludgy element these Norfolk lads are reputedly known for. Shane Miller’s bark, however, as parched as the Sahara and as wearing as its sand in your crevices, often tears the eardrums apart. Just as detrimental are the short blastbeat-filled sections, displaying a chaotic, somewhat loose sound whilst also lacking something of a spark.

Similarly, the opening riff of the ensuing ‘Seaweed’ is a lumbering, plodding beast, invoking images of your Grandad on the dancefloor; before a filthy swamp, infected by the odd buzzsaw Thrash lick, finally brings this album to life. The colossal Sludge/Grind of ‘Captain Tugboat’ is a pulverising, hurtling groove monster; the careering weight interspersed by the kind of funeral-Punk breakdowns reminiscent of Palehorse. Miller’s snotty, wailing delivery falls into a screaming, slow furrow, the band finally adding tighter cohesion to their undeniable versatility. Sadly the portentous lament of ‘Grandpa Sorrow Pt 1’ is cheapened by that terrifying caveman-style yelp and its alarming nature does indeed become the most memorable factor of a promising yet flawed set.

The emotion, weight and power here merely lacks the ‘glue’ and direction to duel effectively with those fulminating vocals. The striking ‘A Monger’, its early melancholy replaced by a frantic bludgeon, and the pounding swell of the Bob Danvers-Walker – sampled closer ‘Grandpa Sorrow Pt 2’, stand out but there are too few remarkable moments. Despair not, however, William English display hostility and invention in abundance. It simply needs rounding with a little experience…and more judicious use of that voice.

 

6.5/10

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PAUL QUINN