Heavenshore is In Dread Response's third full length release in their 10 year history and the first for their new singer Ben Read.
In the ten years since this band formed a lot of the members have been involved in other projects. Drummer Corey Friedlander has played in many bands including working in 8 Foot Sativa alongside new In Dread singer Ben Read but now he performs with the more known band City of Souls which also includes In Dread Response members Trajan Schwencke on guitars and Steve Boag on Bass. These guys are prolific within the New Zealand rock and metal scene which not only gives them credibility but also plenty of time to tune their skills.
These guys play melodic death metal and they do an impressive job at it. It’s really difficult to pin down a favourite track or perfect moment because it's fairly seamless is just works as one entire piece. As well as it being heavy there are plenty of atmospheric sounds and softer moments that offer relief from the heavy dark storm of death metal. Plenty of melody and plenty of aggressive vocals and beats to destroy you - these guys have bought their A game for this release. Ben’s versatility as a singer is highlighted greatly on this album as he is not only growling but plenty of yelling and screaming.
The title track Heavenshore is a sonic masterpiece painting an amazing picture in your mind. The album is filled with these moments of softness and tranquillity and then just as quickly irks you back to the guttural violence anguish and pain that you would expect from a death metal band.
The final track Weight is brutal and a full-on attack from the outset. This ends the release with you torn apart from the storm this band creates within its music.
This album is a thick multi-layered molten mass of metal that will leave your ears bleeding and craving more. In Dread Response as band has improved greatly over the years and this album is awesome. With great music and great production, this album is a showcase of NZ metal at its finest.
In Dread Response are a five piece metal band hailing from Auckland.
Having spent the better part of two years preparing their exceptional live act it becomes very evident it's been far too long since you have seen this amount of energy and power on stage.
With their music based on melody and intensity, In Dread Response succeeds in evoking emotions usually reserved for tragic epic movie moments and near death experiences.