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Liberated Sounds Indeed

Counting Days are a five piece made up of ex-members from a host of Hardcore bands including the likes of TRC and Heights, so it’s ok for you to expect this album to sound a certain way. Well, you’d actually be wrong. There are elements of Hardcore under the surface, of course there is, but in more general terms this is a Metal album through and through. The band recruited Fredrik Nordstrom in to produce the album, someone who has worked with the likes of At The Gates, In Flames and Opeth in the past, so even there we can see that they were looking to try and reach into slightly different territory than they were perhaps used to and comfortable with. Even the name of the album, Liberated Sounds, screams of this idea that the guys in the band were able to approach this with a real freedom, and it absolutely shows. You’ll be three or four tracks in to this and immediately will gain a sense that you have picked up one of the most exciting Metal albums of 2015.

From the off it needs to be said that frontman Thomas Debaere delivers an absolutely astounding performance. His ability to bring such a high level of emotion so consistently makes each track sound absolutely massive. His vocals weave seamlessly in and out of the powerful music, with each track feeling like it has got hundreds of riff changes, each as effective as the last. It’s all very brash, big and chaotic, stringing together so many influences in to one cohesive sound. Another standout performance on the album comes from Drummer Lasselle Lewis, who orchestrates every change of pace, every riff, every musical assault with apparent ease. His playing style is incredibly tight, and it’s a real credit to him that his ability alone has helped make this album sound as good as it does.

Opening track Burned By Faith will immediately hook you in to the point where it might need a good few repeat listens before you’re able to move on. The immediacy of the ferocity smashing through your speakers will trigger a startled smile across the face of most people - one that won’t really let up through the next couple of absolute ragers Die Alone and Beaten & Scarred. As noted, the Hardcore elements are there creeping through, the venom and power being the main thing, but it serves as an accompaniment to this huge Metal sound. They were all great in their old bands, but on this record it sounds like their talent and ability has matured to a point where they could well be on to something here that could completely transcend anything they’ve done in the past.

Perhaps one weakness on the album is the fact that it does drift on for slightly too long. If they’d cut this down by a couple of tracks (don’t ask us to pick which!) then it would have been more of a concise assault. Either way, the quality oozing out of tracks like Prison Of Misery and Sands Of Time make you kind of forget about any minor gripes you may have initially been feeling.

Overall then, Counting Days excited many when they announced their formation due to the calibre of musicians from their previous bands. Whilst many may have expected a more standard Hardcore affair, the guys in the band have gone so much further and delivered easily one of the most exciting Metal records this year. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for Counting Days.