I love the vocals coming from Nyves Krithinidou on this album, it is just a shame that it is metalcore and that there is also a male lead singer who is doing his best to destroy all the harmony which she brings to the album. This debut from German sextet Venues is bound to get a great deal of people saying wonderful things about it, but for me it is over-produced, sterile, and without passion or soul. I would very much like to hear an album from Nyves which is far more pure metal, and without Robin Baumann being involved, as he is a distraction . The music is just way too polished as well, so although the band are obviously putting in the effort every single raw edge has been removed, sanded down and polished to a mirror-like sheen, whereas I want my metal to be grunty and raw.

I’ve not always been a massive fan of metalcore, and this album reminds me of everything I don’t like about the genre, but I am sure that there are plenty of people out there who are going to prove me wrong and say this is an amazing piece of work. Never mind, I’m used to being in a minority – and I certainly can’t see myself playing this again.

Rating: 5/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/VENUESofficial/
https://www.arising-empire.com/