Band: Errander Album: The Need To Know Label: In at the Deep End Rating: 8.5/10 Website: http://www.errander.co.uk BUY NOW!

After hearing small samples of Errander's debut release from various sources, I knew early on that I must have this album. Only proving to further seal the deal for me was finding out that the album was mastered by Mr. Steve Austin (Today Is The Day, Converge) and I can say with great conviction that "The Need To Know" more than lived up to all my expectations. Powering its way to 33 minutes of frenzied and heart-stopping visceral noise, Errander have crafted an album that is not only breathtakingly complex and heavy as hell but also a captivating and interesting offering. On the first listen, it is easy to just get lost in a wall of thrash riffery and ear-splitting screaming, the sound is abrasive to say the least and in places, just downright shocking. However, giving the album a few more listens you can start to hear the band for what they are, a very talented group of musicians. The instruments are tightly played and they manage to play fast and intricately without ever sounding sloppy. The furious time changes are superbly crafted and the brief moments of sanity like "Through The Door" and the slow controlled intro to "Now We're Gone" show the band can impeccably throw splashes of well-placed melody into their sound. "Glory Grabbers Unite" sets the tone of the album and the initial Converge-paced intro soon breaks to a headbanging rhythm almost guaranteed to break heads in the mosh pit. The song then radically changes tempo with a slower middle section which proves to be the calm before the storm as the song soon dives back into fast-paced chugging guitars and pounding metal drums. The album remains consistently interesting and at no point does it become samey and unoriginal as a lot of albums currently occupying the genre seem to suffer with. "The Need To Know" is packed full of entrancing moments of pure mayhem contrasted with areas of slower and a more maintained sound. This album is definitely set to make heads turn when it is released in February. Matt Clifford Back to Reviews