Whetstone - Hunted EP Review

Whetstone - Hunted EP Review

Whetstone are a four piece unsigned band from London, who have managed to self release their debut EP entitled "Hunted". Whetstone play the "woodsy", progressive and epic black metal similar to early Opeth, early Ulver and Primordial etc but with a unique and orginal twist on things. The EP is avilable for free download, so who wouldn't want some thought provoking epic black metal for free?

Anyway moving on to the review itself. The EP opens up with a very spacey keyboard intro. Which sets the mood for the true opener "Life Relinqueshed" which opens up with some soaring double kicking over mornfull epic guitar harmonies. The overall feel of the album is very sad and thought provoking. In my times listening to it I have dwelt on my darkest and deepest of thoughts. Very bleak and haunting. The harmony at 2:46 of the song is one of the best moments on the album abousltely soul wrenching. The song sets the standard for the compostions on the EP. With massive instrumental mid sections which keep your attention throughout.

The production is very good for a self release, the whole "rough around the edges" feel gives it that raw feel in order for the gut wrenching emotion too emerge full from the music. It is mixed well and you can hear everything well. The drum sound is decent also. The vocals are quiet sick, a very distrubing black metal wretch, which is filled off spite and hate. The lyrics are sometimes dechperible but for the most part you can't tell, which is typical of the genre. I guess the lyrics deal with bad thoughts, inner emotions underneath a possible story.

Moving on with "Silvan Death" which differs slightly stylisticly. It reminds me of Metallica at their most progressive. Orion mostly, coupled with that whetstone feel. It opens up with some nice Metallica inspired clean parts. Which launches into a quialty riff with vocals, sporting a nice pinch in the riff which rolls the riff around very well. The song goes on with mostly sad harmonies, after the lead a harmony plays which is very mornful. Perhabs goes this goes on for to long but I think it allows for the listener to dwell on a quiet beutifal passage of music and it sinks in more.

Struggle for Sanctuary.... Struggle for fucking Sanctuary. What can i say really. This is one of the most epic songs I have heard from an unsigned band... Fuck that im music in general. The riffs remind me of Edge of Sanity at their best. Truly this band are the future for this style of music continuing the legacy Edge of Sanity left behind and which Opeth decided to ditch on us.

The EP ends on Hunted which is the band's longest epic filled with everything you excpect from the EP. I have ranted on a bit and done a really in depth track by track. Which I don't normally do, but I have never reviewed an EP before and decided to include an in depth track by track.

No song is a let down, every compostion is fantastic and flows togother superbly. Whetstone have a bright future been a very young band (Around about the 17 year old mark) Give this band a couple of grand to record a full length and we could be talking having another epic metal masterpiece in the vein of the band's influences on hand.

If the review hasn't convinced you, get it if you like. Early Opeth, early Ulver, Edge of Sanity, Dissection,Dawn etc.

4.75/5


/C