"Summer of 05" - July 2005
22/08/06 21:10
This 4 track demo was self produced being recorded
and produced by Tom in his front room in June 2005.
1. Run for it
2. High Risk Manouvre
3. Ascension
4. Kelly
5. This Time...I Think I've Gone Too Far
Allergo – Summer of 05 (Self Released) review by James Gilbert on July 26 2006
It’s been a while since the days of Botch and Coalesce when such a form of music had such an influence on the hardcore scene. But it’s obvious from listening to Allergo that they have not forgotten this time. However, this era is not all that this Scottish four-piece draw influence from. Displaying examples from a genre impossible to label, the erratic guitar work clashing with ghastly vocals will cause the listener to think of bands such as Converge and Dillinger Escape Plan in particular, who share similar aspects of both hardcore and metalcore (landing them somewhere in between). This added to the dark, brooding temper of this music, make for something produced only for those with resilient ears.
Allergo have been writing music since 2002, storming their local scene and beyond, playing with bands such Cult Of Luna, Bleeding Through and even the legendary Shai Hulud and have also impressed at the two previous years at the famous Scottish festival, T In The Park. Allergo have also been famed in Scotland for their live performances, which is easy to imagine from listening to the fury which drives this CD. However, like a lot of other ‘noise’ bands, Allergo display some quieter moments in their music, as if the calm before the storm. A word of warning, however, is that due to the cross-genre hardcore metal this quartet so raucously display, that it’s one of mixed moods and therefore drawing mixed tastes. It’s a genre which refuses to stand still and be named, which is why at the same time as drawing in much praise and enthusiasm, also scares off many who are reluctant to stray away from listening to certain genres. The hardcore kids will love the fast, thrashy verses and find the gritty, stomping beatdowns attractive, whereas the metalheads will be drawn to the technicality of the musicians and prefer screams and growls over gang vocals. Although there is some love lost in this diversity, it has overall widened Allergo’s fanbase beyond the simple ‘metalcore’ genre.
The age of the band members is something which adds to the positive reactions their music has been gaining them. Either just passing or nearing 20 years, it’s inspiring to see four young musicians with such passion and talent who are adding a budding genre. Looking at the tracks themselves, ones which stand out include the opening title track, a brutal and fierce introduction to the album. Following is the Converge-esque ‘High Risk Manoeuvre’, soaring from speeding highs to hell-raising lows, possibly the strongest track on the record. The longer tracks (a couple bordering on 10 minutes) leave a little to be desired: loss of time, mostly, in that the long moody holes in the songs, although creating atmosphere, too severely break the raw tension and power of the faster and louder parts, making said songs far more bumpy rides than the listener might bargain for. Having said this, it will ultimately depend on the tastes of the listener, the atmospheric sections likely to be met with more enthusiasm from fans of The Ocean or early Cave In rather than Dillinger and The Red Chord, who will be amorous of parts which display the untamed speed and rage, places where Allergo thrive.
The fact that this band are unsigned comes as a surprise indeed, as Allergo have so much to offer, both in the studio and by means of the hardcore/metal grapevine, on stage as well. Hailed already by Terrorizer magazine, New Noise and UK Metal Underground, it won’t be long before the rest of the UK hears about the Scottish underground scene’s biggest secret. www.allergonoise.co.uk
1. Run for it
2. High Risk Manouvre
3. Ascension
4. Kelly
5. This Time...I Think I've Gone Too Far
Allergo – Summer of 05 (Self Released) review by James Gilbert on July 26 2006
It’s been a while since the days of Botch and Coalesce when such a form of music had such an influence on the hardcore scene. But it’s obvious from listening to Allergo that they have not forgotten this time. However, this era is not all that this Scottish four-piece draw influence from. Displaying examples from a genre impossible to label, the erratic guitar work clashing with ghastly vocals will cause the listener to think of bands such as Converge and Dillinger Escape Plan in particular, who share similar aspects of both hardcore and metalcore (landing them somewhere in between). This added to the dark, brooding temper of this music, make for something produced only for those with resilient ears.
Allergo have been writing music since 2002, storming their local scene and beyond, playing with bands such Cult Of Luna, Bleeding Through and even the legendary Shai Hulud and have also impressed at the two previous years at the famous Scottish festival, T In The Park. Allergo have also been famed in Scotland for their live performances, which is easy to imagine from listening to the fury which drives this CD. However, like a lot of other ‘noise’ bands, Allergo display some quieter moments in their music, as if the calm before the storm. A word of warning, however, is that due to the cross-genre hardcore metal this quartet so raucously display, that it’s one of mixed moods and therefore drawing mixed tastes. It’s a genre which refuses to stand still and be named, which is why at the same time as drawing in much praise and enthusiasm, also scares off many who are reluctant to stray away from listening to certain genres. The hardcore kids will love the fast, thrashy verses and find the gritty, stomping beatdowns attractive, whereas the metalheads will be drawn to the technicality of the musicians and prefer screams and growls over gang vocals. Although there is some love lost in this diversity, it has overall widened Allergo’s fanbase beyond the simple ‘metalcore’ genre.
The age of the band members is something which adds to the positive reactions their music has been gaining them. Either just passing or nearing 20 years, it’s inspiring to see four young musicians with such passion and talent who are adding a budding genre. Looking at the tracks themselves, ones which stand out include the opening title track, a brutal and fierce introduction to the album. Following is the Converge-esque ‘High Risk Manoeuvre’, soaring from speeding highs to hell-raising lows, possibly the strongest track on the record. The longer tracks (a couple bordering on 10 minutes) leave a little to be desired: loss of time, mostly, in that the long moody holes in the songs, although creating atmosphere, too severely break the raw tension and power of the faster and louder parts, making said songs far more bumpy rides than the listener might bargain for. Having said this, it will ultimately depend on the tastes of the listener, the atmospheric sections likely to be met with more enthusiasm from fans of The Ocean or early Cave In rather than Dillinger and The Red Chord, who will be amorous of parts which display the untamed speed and rage, places where Allergo thrive.
The fact that this band are unsigned comes as a surprise indeed, as Allergo have so much to offer, both in the studio and by means of the hardcore/metal grapevine, on stage as well. Hailed already by Terrorizer magazine, New Noise and UK Metal Underground, it won’t be long before the rest of the UK hears about the Scottish underground scene’s biggest secret. www.allergonoise.co.uk