Genre: Melodic Death Metal/Hardcore
Label: Unsigned
Date of Release: May 13, 2014
PIOUS MELODIC METAL
Abandoned Will recently formed in Kansas City, Missouri, led by Solace And Stable drummer Bill Amsbaugh. To make its debut, the project has released a single from their upcoming EP entitled "Helping Hand."
To start off, the instrumentation is solid. The vocals pose a nice range and show off a good amount of energy and aggression. The guitar work appears to be quite simple, but there is enough atmosphere and melody to it that it does carry its weight in the song. The same can be said for the drumming, which serves as sort of a basic framework for the track. The musicianship definitely works in this single.
"Helping Hand" demonstrates a mix of melodic metal with steadily-paced hardcore. In terms of innovation, this single doesn't have much to offer, but it is still well put together. The song has some very good buildup and dynamic, knowing how long certain parts should go on for and when to let the track move on to something else. At the same time, however, it also has a lot of flow, and nothing feels crammed in; it holds the perfect balance. The song-writing for this single is definitely something worth noting.
The sound production for this single is also quite decent. There is a lot of clarity in each instrument being played in the track, but they don't sound excessively polished for this type of sound. Although the vocals tend to be a bit too loud and overwhelming for the rest of the music, the instruments are crisp and clear enough for the music to be listenable at the very least. Despite the flaw, however, the mixing is rather solid.
"Helping Hand" may not be one of the stronger singles to come out this year, but there is plenty for it to hold its ground well. The musicianship and production are both solid, and the track's composition is pretty well-constructed. There is something in here, it's just not fully realized yet. Some more thinking outside of the box and better production would definitely do this project some good.
Score: 7/10 (Solid)
