Album Review: No Terror in the Bang – Heal (Klonosphere Records)

No Terror in the Bang is a progressive and cinematic metal six-piece from Rouen, France, whose sound illustrates a chiaroscuro universe oscillating between fragility and fury. The band’s name refers to a phrase by Alfred Hitchcock, evoking the calm before the storm and the tension of his films:

There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.

The band’s second album, ‘Heal’, will be released on January 12th, 2024, via Klonosphere Records.

January releases are all about setting the bar for the year ahead and No Terror in the Bang set it very high for the sound of cinematic metal. Quite an all-encompassing term but something that always makes more sense once you hear what it sounds like. Case in point, No Terror in the Bang and their impressive second album, Heal.

Think grandness, symphonic in ways, but heavy as hell, and featuring a vocalist with a range that beggars belief. That there, sums Heal and what this French six-piece has to offer. Immediately taking the breath away with Hostile and Retch. The opening barrage showcasing this band’s creative abilities and how progressive they can be.

With their imagination running wild, Insolent has grungy groove and delivers pounding bursts of heaviness. Whereas Monster has a dark and gothic melody vein running through it. Both tracks show just how strong the vocals are. Although there isn’t a single track that doesn’t impress in that regard. The following Lulled by the Waves initial subtly is another great example, and when this track powers up, few will fail to find themselves impressed.

No Terror in the Bang keep things interesting with Palindrome’s starry melody and echoing vocals, a track that evolves into something more psychedelic. Before transitioning into the progressive metal intensity of OD. The wilder side of the band on full display here and it’s almost impossible to believe that the same voice is doing these guttural noises.

If there’s one takeaway from this album (aside from the starring aspect being the vocals), it is the variety on show. No Terror in the Bang don’t do the same thing twice at any stage and live up to the cinematic tag emphatically. Nowhere is that better shown then with the title track, although the following King with No Crown and the finale of Warrior prove to be no slouches either. No Terror in the Bang ending things as they begun, in enormous style.

This is cinema.

No Terror in the Bang – Heal Track Listing:

1. Hostile
2. Retch
3. Insolent
4. Monster
5. Lulled by the Waves
6. Palindrome
7. OD
8. Heal
9. King with No Crown
10. Warrior

Links

Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Klonosphere Records