
Between wolf and man.
-- Despite the Reverence --
30/11/2019
Stijn Daneels

Album genres:
■ | heavy metal |
■ | Stoner rock |
■ | Hard Rock |
Album artists:
■ | Tom Liska | Vocals |
■ | Johnny Fast | Guitar |
■ | Brad Zimmer | Drums |
■ | Jordan Poelzer | Bass |
Review written by Stijn "Metal Shredder" Daneels.
[METAL SHREDDER REPORTING]
Last spring
Despite the Reverence’s guitarist Johnny personally introduced me to his band
and to their latest single “Reckless Hero.” A very fun tune which I later
played in one of the early episodes of BELGIAN METAL SHREDDER ON AIR. And now
he has sent me the full release, ready for me to shred for my pleasure and
yours too of course!
[SHREDDING BASICS]
“Plethora”
is the fourth album from the Canadian hard rock band Despite the Reverence, formed
in 2011. “Plethora” is released independently. While they describe themselves as just hard rock, Despite the
Reference also has a lot in common with stoner rock as well as sharing elements
with punk rock and heavy metal.
For the
most part, the sound on “Plethora” is bass-heavy, melodic guitar work, its
songs narrated by clean, howling vocals occasionally changed into growls and
pacing that goes from slow and moody to fast and energetic. Tracks like “Into
the Void” and “Liar of the Wolf” are catchy stoner tunes while songs like “Powerful
Men,” “Creating Ethos” and “Suicide Winds” have heavier riffing and many more harsh
vocals, with the latter song even evoking a doom metal feel with its slow,
thunderous riffs and echoing vocals. Finally there’s also a gentle two-minute
acoustic guitar intermission called “Under Blackened Skies.”
Overall, “Plethora”
has good energy and finesse to it. Tom’s vocals are engaging and he smoothly
transitions from clean to harsh, Johnny yanks out plenty of sweet solos and
Brad and Jordan provide the necessary pacing throughout the entire release. “Plethora”
isn’t a long album, clocking in at about 30 minutes and except for some
unnecessary introductory samples Despite the Reverence gets straight on with
the stoner metal fun!
[SHREDDING VISION]
The entire
album has a Darwin-inspired survival of the fittest setting, with most of the
songs on “Plethora” dealing with living in the harsh wilderness and dealing
with the many dangers within. This setting is also beautifully represented in
the album’s cover art. The undead gunslinger of the cover reminds me of a
combination of Caleb, the blood-thirsty protagonist from the old-school shooter
game series Blood and Marvel’s antihero the Ghost Rider! And our badass main
character is standing in a wasteland surrounded by hungry wolves, whose pitch-black,
detailed furs, glowing yellow eyes and saliva-dropping mouths full of sharp
teeth give them a very intimidating appearance.
[SHARPEST SHREDS & BLUNTEST BLADES]
Tough pick
to be honest, I love the mesmerizing vocals on “Into the Void,” the
blood-pumping riffs on “Reckless Hero,” the intimate atmosphere of the title
track, the dreary, slow but hard pounding beats of “Suicide Winds” and the soaring
guitars on “Creating Ethos.” Yeah, that pretty much cuts it.
I felt that
the opening instrumental track, “Wilderness” dragged on a bit, personally I
would’ve shortened the rain and bells opening section to just 20 seconds
instead of a full minute and then do the rest of the otherwise nicely
atmospheric beginning.
[SHREDDER’S SCORECARD]
8 undead
gunslingers out of 10. With their fourth studio album Despite the Reverence
provides us all with a plethora of tunes that every lover of heavy, atmospheric
tunes will certainly enjoy. Here’s the music video for “Reckless Hero,” filmed
in the beautiful snow-covered Canadian nature.