Comments
Famine, The
THE RAVEN AND THE REAPING
Embodyment was one of the best bands of the late 90’s/early 00’s. Their debut Embrace The Eternal never did much for me, but sophomore outing The Narrow Scope Of Things is one of the best albums of the last eight years. The only problem was the band changed their sound quite a bit from album to album, eventually ending up with a pure hard rock sound that turned old school fans away. Enter The Famine. Ten years after Embodyment appeared on the scene, Kris McCaddon (vocals), Andrew Godwin (guitar), and Mark Garza (drums) have reconvened under a new moniker. Nick Nowell completes the line-up on bass. The Raven And The Reaping could easily have been the follow-up to Embodyment’s debut oh so many years ago. From frantic opener “Scar The Earth” to the technical groove of “The South Will Rise,” the band has certainly returned to their roots. Godwin lays down a great Southern tinged guitar solo on “Cut From The Stone,” and Garza’s drumming is insanely intricate as usual. McCaddon’s vocals are more understandable than the last outing these guys had together. This is brutal stuff. The songwriting isn’t as chaotic as it was 10 years ago, but that’s a good thing. Production courtesy Andreas Magnusson (The Black Dahlia Murder, The Agony Scene) is leaps and bounds above the members’ previous output together, too. For those who were turned off by the changes Embodyment made in such a short tenure, The Famine is sure to satiate your appetite for aggression. As you read this, the band is about to embark on a tour with Demon Hunter, Living Sacrifice, Oh Sleeper, and Advent. Don’t miss out on the groundswell, kids. [SOLID STATE] CHAD OLSON
This album review was originally published in the May/June Issue (#131) of HM Magazine. You can order the Print Version of this issue online or find this issue on newsstands. You can NOW read this entire feature in the online edition of HM Magazine. If you're a subscriber, you get a free online/digital subscription with your print subscription. If you're a subscriber and you don't have or misplaced your password, give us an email and we'll get you that info. You can purchase a single online/digital edition (which includes access to back issues) for only $1.99. A one-year digital-only subscription can be had for only $6.
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