HenrietteBThis thirty three minute, six track blast comes from Switzerland’s Henriette B, whose metalcore melodeath is accredited as bridging the gap between In Flames and The Black Dahlia Murder.

After an introduction suggesting epic intent, the EP gets underway with a swirling, punchy melody. The hoarsely hissing vocalist provides that metalcore element and there’s a reminder of Soilwork when the instrumental tension precedes a break but “Utopia” strength lies in its fresh and developing structure. Mobility is the key as “Face or Flee” flies off into melodic metalcore. “The Other Side” continues in the same vein with similar bursting riffage, triggering and all-round melo-aggression.

“Tales of Reality” isn’t in any way threatening. It’s too melodic and instrumentally colourful for that. What’s missing is the development of any sort of distinct atmospheres. “The Other Side” has a briefly sinister moment but this all about thunder and pace and melody. By “The Mistake We Made” and the final track “Hidden Kingdom”. I was intimately acquainted with the rhythmic pattern, the roars and the mix of technicality and superficial aggression. In terms of overall style, nothing changes much. Yet so too there are breaks, changes of direction and sadly underdeveloped interesting cameos buried subtly in there which all suggest there’s plenty for Henriette B to work with if they choose to expand their vision beyond the broad template of metalcore melodeath.

(6.5/10 Andrew Doherty)

https://www.facebook.com/henriettebmetal

http://henriettebmetal.bandcamp.com/album/tales-of-reality