Siderian—Origins (2019)

Details

Recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Neil Hudson (Krysthla, Gutworm) at Initiate Audio. Media artwork by Dark Days Design. Released Friday 21 June 2019.

Band

Dave Pope—Vocals
James Upton—Guitar
James Evans—Guitar
Chris Cox—Bass
John Booth—Drums

Tracks

Geneva
With the tide
The supplicant
Origins
Voices
Id breaker
Lizard method statement
Sneak attack
Oleum

Review

I reviewed Siderian’s debut EP, Cancel Your Future (2015) a few years ago. My review conclusion said, “All in all a pretty solid debut performance from Siderian. It’s great to hear new British bands with such energy and drive and talent. More of this please…”

Well, here is more.

What puzzles me, though, is that Siderian vocalist, Dave Pope, sent me a preview copy of this album back in April 2019 and I have only just found it in my Gmail account. (Sorry about that.) So, only three-and-a-half years late, here’s my review.

Siderian are a five-piece groove metal / thrash metal / metalcore band from a Northamptonshire, England (UK). They are named after the Siderian period (from σίδηρος / sideros, the Greek word for iron) which was the first geologic period in the Paleoproterozoic era that lasted from 2500 to 2300 million years ago.

And who said that metal isn’t educational?!

“Geneva” (track 1) begins with a fast-picked guitar riff that is soon joined by bass and drums. The main song riff is a head-noddingly bouncy groove overlaid with guitar embellishments and machine-gun-bursts of metalcore-style shouted vocals. A good start, this song goes places and while I’m not a huge fan of these style of largely monotonous, upper-voice shouted vocals, there is no doubt they work in this context—I just wonder what might be achieved if a wider range of pitches were employed to accompany and enhance the guitar melodies.

“With the tide” (track 2) similarly ebbs and flows between fast and slow riffs. There are more than a few elements of early Annihilator’s sound wrapped in this song. But overall, this is an interesting and dynamic track that held my attention to the very end.

“The supplicant” (track 3) ups the tempo considerably with vocals barked ferociously while bass and drums gallop behind and guitars furiously pick out a melody. “Origins” (track 4) has an old-school Teutonic thrash feel to it—think early Kreator. It took me back to the mid-80s, trying not to get caught by my parents listening to the Friday Rock Show with Tommy Vance on the radio.

The main riff for “Voices” (track 5) has a fabulous riff that lifts and falls before slowing down to a clean, arpeggiated passage that is without a doubt the most beautiful piece on the album. Again, I wonder what a different timbre of vocals might have taken the dynamics of this track. But perhaps I’m being harsh, this is the standout track of the album for me.

“Id breaker” (track 6) gallops along nicely with a bit of an eastern sound to the riff, putting me a little in mind of Nile. “Lizard method statement” (track 7) has my favourite riffs of the album, particularly the opening riff. Stuck down here at track number seven, it really is worth reaching this point in the album.

“Sneak attack” (track 8) is another straight-up thrash metal classic that then bubbles along to bursts of vocals. Finally, album closer, “Oleum” (track 9), has another late-80s German, thrash feel. The song has room to breathe as the album finally exhales and we are returned to silence.

Conclusion

Another solid performance from this exciting British band, produced and recorded by the legendary Neil Hudson from one of my favourite bands of the last few years, Krysthla. It is easy to see why Siderian received offers from the likes of WormHoleDeath and Sliptrick Records to release this album, the band instead deciding to release it independently.

If you like your metalcore to groove and be rooted in old school thrash, then three-years late or not, check out Siderian, you won’t be disappointed.

Review score: 85%

Disclosure

Back in 2019, Dave Pope from Siderian contacted me inviting me to preview their then-forthcoming album. I am so sorry it took so long to review—I don’t know what happened! Anyway, I have no connections to either Dave Pope or Siderian, other than I like quality metal. I’m not being paid to review this, but I did get a free digital copy of the album to review which is pretty cool. Many thanks to Dave Pope and to Siderian for continuing to create fresh, exciting metal.