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Bleeding The Ghost
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Bleeding The Ghost |
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| Promethium are a heavy metal band from the UK formed in 2007, releasing two E.P.'s - 'The Revenge' (2007) and 'Tribute To The Fallen' (2009), along with four studio albums - 'Welcome To The Institution' (2010), 'Origins' (2013), 'Faces Of War' (2017) and 'Bleeding The Ghost', released in 2023. | ||||||
| "promethium" is a rare earth element used in specialised atomic batteries for use in pacemakers, guided missiles and radios, getting its name from the Greek Titan Prometheus - who stole fire from Zeus and passed it to his people! So it's kinda apt that the heavy metal band Promethium are an outfit full of energy and relentless power, breathing fire like a mythical dragon on heat! The band are influenced by such legends of metal as Black Sabbath, Pantera, Metallica and Megadeth, with 'Bleeding The Ghost' a modern, yet old school sounding album full of hard hitting and head bang-able tunes, the album coming to life with the one and a half minute anticipation fuelled instrumental 'Goat' - and my uncertainty of whether the band are referring to the lively four legged mammal with backward-curving horns and a beard! Or as a prophetic statement of intent, "goat" a widely used acronym for "Greatest Of All Time". And who's to say Promethium won't be deserving of that accolade sometime in the future? | ||||||
| But right here, right now, in the present, the band are enjoying a kind of rebirth, for three fifths of the band are new - drummer Stu Gordon, guitarist Andy Haworth and vocalist James Candlin joining bassist Gentle Ben and guitarist (the ever present) Daniel Lovett-Horn. The new album gets underway proper with the heavy hitting title song 'Bleeding The Ghost', planting one foot firmly on the monitor of classic sounding traditional metal! The old school gallop Promethium adopt as 'Bleeding The Ghost' (the song) progresses is glorious, reminding me of my very first time listening to heavy metal! And for the record, my first time was over forty years ago, the self titled debut album from British metallers Angel Witch. The recent changes in the Promethium ranks doesn't appear to have done any damage whatsoever to the bands sound, if anything it's harder and more urgent than ever before! | ||||||
| Increasing the melodious intent, 'Priest' takes the mid tempo melodic route to the ears of listeners everywhere - the band pounding the ground hard, shaking buildings to their foundations! Promethium don't forget the roots of heavy metal either, embodying the classic guitar sound so synonymous with the iconic NWOBHM - the legendary British evolution that took the world by storm during the eighties, spearheaded by the likes of Iron Maiden, Samson, and the aforementioned Angel Witch. It's been fifteen years since Promethium appeared on the metal scene, the band changing and evolving with the times but staying true to the heart and soul of heavy metal. Now then, during the eighties and into the nineties, the American crime drama series Murder She Wrote starring Angela Lansbury was a big hit on mainstream TV, and should the original producers Universal Television want to re-invent the show, they wouldn't have to look too far for a new theme tune! Promethium have one all ready to go - and with the same title as the show too! Although after reading through the lyrics it would appear that the band are on a completely different train of thought to the iconic crime drama... | ||||||
| ...plus I don't think a "widowed, retired English teacher who became a successful mystery crime writer" would be a metalhead! But then you never know, at the age of nine I never knew that by ten I would become the diehard metaller I am now! But enough rambling, there's an album to review, and in this moment 'Murder She Wrote', a thunderous stampede of glorious guitars and devastating drums, slamming listeners to floor with an unparalleled intensity. The band are in fine fettle here, delivering head bang-able heavy metal to an ever increasing fanbase. And why wouldn't you be a fan of the band? Either, you're deaf or dead - they're the only reasons I can come up with! If you're alive and can hear, then you need to give 'Bleeding The Ghost' (the album) a listen, it'll be well worth it! Especially with songs such as the fast paced 'Healing Your Sin' rocking your head back and forth, slowing down to a mid tempo march as soon as the vocals kick in! The band continue to mix up the metal styles, roaming around the heavy metal genre visiting every nook and cranny to deliver a varied and enticing listening pleasure. | ||||||
| The band take melodic heavy metal to incredible new heights with the highly head bang-able 'Knives Out', featuring the most sing a long-able chorus the album has to offer. Every listener everywhere will be singing along here, with an in concert crowd participating with the band to make them all feel like the bands sixth member! So come on everyone everywhere, all together "lights out, chasing me in the dark, time out, safe words won't get you far". Absolutely incredible stuff from a band on fire! And with a mellowness not heard previously, Promethium enter the power driven arena of balladry come hymn-like elegance for the slow tempo'd 'Manhattan' - the band reining in all the oomph of the album up to this point. And providing listeners with a much needed breather from the albums relentless barrage of heavy metal. And at just three minutes in length, 'Catfish' is the shortest song on offer, yet despite its shorter run time, it still packs a weighty punch, the head bang ability of earlier returning with increased venom! Is 'Bleeding The Ghost' (the album) the bands strongest work to date? Quite possibly, but that's one conclusion I'll leave entirely up to you, I know exactly what my head and heart are saying though! | ||||||
| And as we stride towards the final two songs, I find myself grinning from ear to ear like the proverbial Cheshire cat - for Promethium have delivered a style of heavy metal that's very dear to my heart. I am a metalhead through and through, right from my head, shoulders, knees and toes to my eyes, ears, mouth and nose! And with the band venturing outside the traditional metal genre for just a moment, 'Snakebite' brings subtle hints of sleaze, doom and alternative metal to the album. Promethium are a confident band, confident in their ability to produce heavy metal of the tallest order - and with their fourth (studio) album, the band have succeeded. Or should that be exceeded! Either way, 'Bleeding The Ghost' (the album) is a an absolute belter, coming to a close with the mellow strains of 'My Fate', weaving a tension fuelled path for about the first thirty seconds or so! And then with a burst of Black Sabbath doom style riffage, 'My Fate' boldly marches on, shuddering the ground and crumbling walls as it strides on by. And after all my rambling, musing and muttering, I'll leave the last words to the band - "make sure you play it loud and raise your fists in the air". A sentiment I fully endorse. | ||||||
| Overall, a hard hitting yet melodious romp of heavy metal, immensely infectious with a hundred percent head bang ability. | ||||||
| Review by Iron Mathew Collins | ||||||
| Reviewed for Promethium | ||||||
| Other Reviews | ||||||
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| Faces Of War | ||||||
| "heavy metal of an aggressive nature, that will pound and pummel your senses, relieving you of every ounce of built up anger, angst and frustration" Read Review | ||||||
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| Revisions | ||||||
| "a bold and confident release from a band not afraid to experiment with their sound - acoustic re-workings of some of their classic heavy metal anthems" Read Review | ||||||
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| Welcome To The Institution - 10th Anniversary Edition | ||||||
| "Promethium deliver a remixed, remastered, and "retouched" version of their debut album, chock full of classic sounding, traditional heavy metal" Read Review | ||||||
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