ALBUM REVIEW - Silent Descent - 'Mind Games'

Silent Descent were one of the surprise finds of university for me. I was in year two, and the album had been out for most of that year already when I stumbled onto the video for 'Duplicity' on Youtube, having seen Metal Hammer's recommendation. The long, flowing hair and a Berzerker t-shirt told me I needed to check them out.

So forward three and a half years until now. The second album, 'Mind Games' has finally arrived after a few line up changes - Sniffles, Dave and Mr. G have all gone, and over the years in have come Chewy, Jimmy Sa... Su... erm, Soviet, and Purple Gimp respectively to fill the gaps. The sound hasn't changed overmuch, although the omnipresent scratches and wikkitiwah that were all over 'Duplicity' have been replaced with subtle samples that support everything else like a sinister Purple Gimp supporting everything else.

So, the album itself. It's noticeably more accessible than the previous disc; the songs are by and large about the singalong chorus and follow a relatively predictable 'metalcore formula' of scream/sing/scream/sing. There are a few of what I call 'Sonic Syndicate Moments' where the riffs and choruses sound like they've been written with radio play in mind, that said I can't object to that really.

The main changes to note are the vocals - no longer is vocalist Tom Watling relying on a low inhale for his gutturals, instead switching between a mid-pitched shout, a higher shriek/scream, and the older style (although this is improved a lot). Guitarist Callahan seems to have taken over the melodic vocals full time, and the chorus parts are definitely written with hooks and memorable melodies. The drums as well have been recorded by a person, which is nice as certain parts on 'Duplicity' would need three or four arms to play. I know. I'VE FUCKING TRIED.

There are a couple of criticisms I need to bring to bear, however: A little more variation would have been nice - there are only a couple of songs not following the general formula noted earlier, such as 'Bring-In-Sanity', and there are no songs that have the crushing heaviness of previous efforts such as 'I Can, I Will'. 'Mind Games', then should be seen as not so much an attempt to retread the same ground, but focus that sound in a certain direction and bring the band to as many people as possible. And on those grounds, I would rate it at 7/10. Good luck hearing these choruses and not having them stuck in your bonce for days.