Album Review: Sugar Spine – Emerald (Self Released)

Sugar Spine are set to release their debut album, ‘Emerald’, on November 24th, 2023. Boasting ten tracks, which includes successful singles, ‘Hisashi’, ‘Pseudo Panther’, ‘Emerald’ and ‘With You Forever’, the debut album also features guest vocalists from Cabal, Bleed from Within and To The Grave.

Getting stronger, more creative, and more extravagant, Sugar Spine are back and finally ready to unleash their much-anticipated debut album. Beginning in moody and dramatic fashion, the crash and bang of instruments announces the heavy tone shift of opener Antlers. Sugar Spine have arrived and they are in a beastly mood. Yet, this track and many that follow, drip atmosphere too.

Showing off a desperate style of heaviness and speed, Sugar Spine follows that strong start with a manic head-banger called Jackal. Before vocalist Andreas Bjulver of Cabal joins the band for one of the most devastating tracks of all, Hisashi. Where crashing instrumentation and throat-tearing vocals combine with a massive post-orientated chorus to great effect.

Easily one of the best tracks on the entire record. Yet, extremely strong music with layers is the ‘bread & butter’ of Sugar Spine. So, it’s no surprise that they can then deliver something with stomping groove and chaotic metal at its core with Pseudo Panther. A track that rages, and rages extremely hard.

The stellar guests keep on coming as Bleed from Within’s Scott Kennedy lends his immense voice to the carnage of With You Forever. Followed then by a return of their moodier and melodic side with Keratin Seed, Blossom into Claws. It’s one of the darkest sounding tracks on the album and ends in horrifying fashion. Which means the return of the meatiness and speed on Dogtooth is very welcome. A track that hits with a stupid amount of force, and features Dane Evans of To the Grave.

Continuing to absolutely kill it on this record, Sugar Spine hit another melodramatic high with the title track. Although they balance out the melodies with frenzied vitality. Before they go hell for leather with The Light of An Oncoming Train, a no-nonsense blast of speed. It’s one of the more sickening examples of their intensity.

Finally, it’s Cursed with Patience, and it’s another banger track that delivers morse melody and powerful heaviness, tainted by a post-hardcore angle, to leave the listener feeling extremely spent but extremely satisfied. Sugar Spine are an awesome band, and this album deserves a ton of attention.

Sugar Spine – Emerald Track Listing:

1. Antlers
2. Jackal
3. Hisashi (feat. Andreas Bjulver of Cabal)
4. Pseudo Panther
5. With You Forever (feat. Scott Kennedy of Bleed from Within)
6. Keratin Seed, Blossom into Claws
7. Dogtooth (feat. Dane Evans of To the Grave)
8. Emerald
9. The Light of An Oncoming Train
10. Cursed with Patience

Links

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