Surprisingly mellow
I was suitably impressed with the first Nephwrack sampler 'By The Light' when it dropped through my door in July. So when another Nephwrack disc happened upon my welcome mat for some reason I thought it was a complete album. Slightly disappointed that it wasn't and just another one song sampler, I stuck it in my CD player and hit that famous lob sided triangle.
Rather than being a Disturbed versus Iron Maiden affair of 'By The Light', 'The Once And Future King' is more post grunge with a more mellow approach. Think of a British Puddle Of Mud but a good version of Puddle Of Mud. The aspect that is impressive with this tune is how it builds from a clean guitar and vocal to a gentle but sing-a-long chorus being backed by distortion, acoustics, drums, strings, driving bass. It certainly surprised this reviewer who was expecting a dour, drawn out and razorblade pressed against the wrist ballad.
Nephwrack are two for two now as regarding putting me in my place. I don't think it's as grandiose as it could be, but given a chance and also given a musical career this band could make quite a name for themselves. They are certainly head and shoulders over many, if not all, of the British bands I've reviewed recently. Fingers crossed that someone gives them that chance of a career.