“The culmination of experiences, trials and tribulations of founding members Matt Barlow, Van Williams and Freddie Vidales”; the opening line of Ashes Of Ares biography. Now these names should rings bells and if they don’t then you probably aren’t a follower of Nevermore & Iced Earth because these guys used to play in them.
As the story continues, “the trio came together with a renewed drive to create a sound which is a true collaboration of their personal influences, ideas and visions” and that’s exactly what happens here. In other words, ‘we’re not doing anything different’. This is no bad thing, some more of that is always welcome and there is always room for a good song but Ashes Of Ares (Nuclear Blast) is sadly, a bitter disappointment.
The rules this writer goes by as do many are, 1) produce something different, innovative, new, exciting… or 2) produce something done before but excel at it, put a stamp on it and make it your own. Slightly off genre but look at Enforcer, it’s all been done before but they do it damn well!
Ashes Of Ares have done neither here, there’s nothing remotely nod worthy at all on this record, in fact this writer is, dare it be said, bored. The riffs are standard, uninspiring and the drums are just there to keep a beat. Vocals? It’s Matt Barlow, a superb singer but ‘give me something man!’
What else can be said? Ashes Of Ares – A band this writer was looking forward to checking out. A band this writer was expecting something great from and was let down. Whilst production is great the content is far below par as to what’s to be expected from this group of individuals and it really is disappointing.
3/10
Andrew Pennington