Founders Of A New Frontier
It seems as if you can’t go a few days without a new genre name being branded about. Handed out as readily as light sabres at a Star Wars convention, everyone wants to be the first to coin the new buzz phrase. We’re all guilty of it, which is why when a band ascertain to be founders of a new genre, the alarm bells do start to ring as you reside yourself to being subjected to yet another bunch of wannabe’s looking for the slightest crack in the door to make their entrance through. As if on cue the alarm bells started to whirl into action as Southampton’s Ghosts On Pegasus Bridge proudly claim to be founders of the ‘Epic-Core’ genre; tentatively putting the mini album ‘The Darkest Shore’ into the player you brace yourself for the usual bombardment of such statements and yet this time it doesn’t happen.
Thrashing with immense force whilst radiating a melodic might to charm, GOPB marry the raw aggression of metal with the ferociousness of hardcore before sprinkling it all with appealing hook cladded choruses to snare all. From the fragile intro of ‘For I Never Left (Always Yours)’, GOPB attack, unleashing frantic metal riffs amongst snarling vocals and body crushing bass lines whilst lead singer Nic Matthews unapologetically draws you in, offering an irresistible barrage of sing along lines to tease the vocal chords. Having set the standard high, GOPB don’t fail to disappoint as the pounding punch of ‘Towers’ collides with gang chants that spiral around raging riffs that gain added ferociousness with the epic scaling grandeur of ‘Dear Alisiya, We’re On Hollow Ground’, injecting some viscerally raw vocals to proceedings that make way for an even mightier bout of infectious gang shouting. ‘This Is A Crisis’ refuses to take its foot off the accelerator, delivering thunderous drum beats amidst harmonious vocals, providing an intriguing intensity to the track as the Southampton five piece mix the heavy hitting with mighty melody to great effect. ‘Anchors’ takes things a step further, upping the ante with an onslaught of unadulterated chanting to pound your fist in the air to whilst shouting along. Culminating in a bout of stabbing vocals to bring things to a fitting close 'Anchors' retreats only for ‘All Creation Wept’, punching angrily as venomous snarl shine though and fast,furious drums pound, breaking momentarily for GOPB’s melodic mastery to kick in once again that bring proceedings to a captivatingly colossal climax.
There is always an exception to the rule and GOPB are it, actually doing what they claim and creating a whole new genre to wrap our ears around and what’s more, they do it with a combination of style, aggression and melodic hook that is impossible to ignore. Ladies and gents, welcome to epic-core.