Album review by; DeeDee
We have been waiting for this for so long our mouths have remained parched in anticipation. Ever since White Raven Down released the ‘Conspiracy’ EP in 2018 we have been teased with singles such as ‘Masquerade’ and ‘Roll Of The Dice’ and now at last we have the debut album ‘Don’t Shoot The Messenger’. White Raven Down are a band that have stunned us with their live performances over recent years and are one of those acts you dare not miss.
Amazingly their records contain the equal amount of depth as their live sets and reach every sensory neuron in your body. So now I’ve received and played the forthcoming Eleven tracks, is my gun loaded to shoot the messenger or not?
Silky and succulent chords introduce us to ‘Demons At Your Door’ an opening with warmth and precise measurement. The temperature rises with the vocals of Will Taylor, I just love that soulful richness, he delivers. Fans of the band will be familiar with a few tracks already and ‘Price You Pay’ is one of them. It strikes with familiarity, like the appearance of an old friend, swirling guitar strings from Stu Bailey and more lush vocals, just round it off, it’s a mind blowing piece. The bashing sticks from Tom Mrazek fittingly underpin ‘Not Alone’ it runs with a post grunge feel and when Luke Chappell’s bass is forefront, your heart simply beats faster. Falling to earth with ‘Masquerade’ the album takes a breath, slowly oozing a more divine tempo and allows us to sink into a brief comfort zone. ‘All Day Long’ is a beautiful, messy track. Low and dirty, with more attacking drive and rampant screeching guitar again from Stu. You have to air strum along to ‘Mind Reader’ it’s one of those that’s relentless, punching you from every angle and yes, head-banging is strongly advised.
‘Roll Of The Dice’ is a melodic symphony, creeping into view, with higher vocals and another bass line that offers so much empathy. A well known track "Salvation" is down in acoustic version, drifting and swaying like a cool breeze on a sultry afternoon. The laid back theme continues on ‘The Road’,
harmonies and keys introduce us to another side of White Raven Down and for a few minutes we are taken into a magical and spiritual world. ‘Lost Your Hold’ is the latest single and has a lyric video on the bands YouTube channel. This is brutal stuff, a speed guitar intro and hollering, before a riff that cuts like a serrated knife. It dives and marauds with such fierceness, using shock tactics to encapsulate you. ‘Void And Flame’ quickly spins from gentle lullaby to mass destroyer, god it doesn’t get much better than this, it summons everything from the pits of desolation to join in, bringing the album to a magnificent close.
This is one album you must grab, it has all the elements, all the ingredients and all the quality we’ve come to expect from this extraordinary band. It has been so well planned out and each track takes you somewhere you’ve never ventured before. Pleasantly formidable and challenging it’s been well worth the wait. The messenger is safe, I didn’t shoot him, I fell in love with him.
5/5
White Raven Down are;
Will Taylor - Vocals
Stu Bailey - Guitar
Luke Chappell - Bass
Tom Mrazek - Drums
Mixed/mastered by John Cornfield (Muse, Supergrass, Oasis, King Creature and Daxx and Roxane),
Released on Roulette Records
WHITE RAVEN DOWN will tour mid 2022 to promote the album.
Socials;
WEBSITE - https://www.whiteravendown.com
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/whiteravendown
INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/white_raven_down/