Amber/Locktender | Stream

Coming in April from Halo of Flies (U.S.), Zegema Beach (Canada) and I Corrupt/Narshardaa (Europe) is a screaming good split 7” between Marburg, Germany's Amber and Cleveland's Locktender. This is the first new material to be released by Amber since recruiting new vocalist Julian and coincides with Locktender's new full length, Rodin. And Scratch the Surface has it streaming for your previewing pleasure.

Amber contributes “Heritage”, an emotionally charged and dark tune reflective of their post-hardcore lineage. It almost broods while Julian's desperate roar tears through anguish and apocalypse. The riffs are relentless and pounding, that fourth beat like a punch in the gut. Melodies soar between the peaks on the track's back half, carrying it skyward beyond the terrestrial.

Locktender also work the post-hardcore angle but do so with a conceptual basis of interpreting the work of (non-musical) artists through their own art. For this release they've chosen Herman Melville's “The Piazza” as the subject. It's a dynamic track working through walls of noise, tender guitar melodies, menacing vocals and heavy-handed aggression.

Each side of this 7” compliments the other by balancing volatility and vulnerability, introspection and outward expression. Why not have a listen for yourself, then head on over and pre-order it!

Band info: www.facebook.com/hereisamber | www.facebook.com/locktenderband
Label info: www.halooffliesrecords.com

Matt Hinch lives an unassuming life on the backroads outside Forest Mills, Ontario, Canada. He packs in as much metal as he possible can amid factory work, raising three daughters with his wife and working the land. In addition to Scratch the Surface Matt also writes for Hellbound, Ghost Cult Magazine, About Heavy Metal and his own blog, Kingdom of Noise. Keep up with him on Twitter @KingdomofNoise.