Rise and Fall Review :)

Just got an email back from the Editor of rocklouder.co.uk, saying that my Rise and Fall review will be published sometime this week... vvvvverrrrry happy :) So now that it's got the all clear, here's it is...

Formed from the simultaneous break-ups of “The Deal” and “Kingpin,” Rise and Fall have long established themselves as the most successful hardcore band to make it out of Belgium. Since the original release of their debut album ‘Hellmouth’, they have stopped at nothing to make sure they provided fans with the goods they wanted. They’ve had the usual band ups-and-downs, with band members coming and going as they please, but now all members are full-time, it seems Rise and Fall can truly concentrate on the job in hand.


And so we are presented with their newest offering, ‘Our Circle is Vicious.’ From the very beginning, it’s clear that they’re not messing around. We’re instantly drawn in by opener ‘Soul Slayer,’ with Bjorn Dossche’s electrifying vocals and Wim’s pulse-racing drumming. This is true proof that going through many-a-drummer has been worth it. Merging effortlessly into ‘Built on Graves,’ listeners are kept on their toes as they’re put through pace changes and the masterful guitar skills of Cedric Goetgebuer. Moving through the album, we are eased into ‘To the Bottom,’ as the crossover of guitar and drum skills moves into one of the most mesmerising tracks on the album, be it due to the surprisingly attractive slow pace or the pure talent on show.


As we continue the journey through, ‘In Circles,’ provides a chance to see a different side to Goetgebuer’s guitar skills, and a more controlled vocal from Dossche. This may be a standout track from the album in the way it’s crafted, but it’s a welcome one, making itself known in all the right ways. The eeriness of ‘Stillborn’ will have listeners hooked on every note, as vocals take a back seat and we can enjoy the entrancing effect of the pure music. This is a quick pause in the album, before we are thrown headfirst into closer ‘Knowing.’ This is really where the magic begins, as the lyrics connect to every one of us, and we can truly see how Rise and Fall have grown. The changing line-ups have now come together to create the album’s highlight, which seeks out to showcase what each member brings to this band. The creative juices have surely been flowing freely for the making of this album, one which will keep the ever-growing audiences bouncing along to every note.


Turn it up loud, put it on repeat, and enjoy the artform which is ‘Our Circle is Vicious.’


4/5