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Universal Cry For Help - Album Reviews
WWW.ROOMTHIRTEEN.COM
REVIEW BY CHRISTINE MILLER
If you're looking for aggressive, uncompromising British metal, you've come to the right place. Aiming to put British trash metal back on the map, Long Time Dead's debut album seems hard for any metal fan to dislike, considering that the influence of such legendary metal acts as Metallica, Megadeth, Machine Head and Pantera manage to seep into nearly every track to create a fusion of good, honest sounding heavy metal.
Long Time Dead begin their relentless attack from the minute the album kicks off with the high-speed, full-volume metal anthem 'Half-Cocked Smile', a track that fuses thunderous hooks with electrifying lead guitar solos and provides the first introduction to Matt Owen's raw vocals, which are undoubtedly indebted to the influence of Metallica's James Hetfield. Although Long Time Dead manage to avoid the theatrical trappings that often make heavy metal bands
like Metallica feel over-dramatic, their influence is overwhelmingly apparent, especially in the explosive 'Who Are You', with its up-tempo, distorted heavy-metal guitar and savage vocals that harks back to 'Ride the Lightening' era Metallica.
'Livevil' and 'Right My Wrongs' plunge into much darker depths; the militant, intense sounds of the guitars coupled with Owen's embittered, fiery vocals make the anger and aggression in these songs almost tangible. 'Alone' is another standout song, changing from the white-hot anger of 'Right My Wrongs' to a much more desolate sound. The minimal but emotionally intense lyrics allow the guitar to lead the way, changing smoothly from gritty thrash to more sensitive picking, before building again to a cacophony of pounding drums, heavy rhythms and mind-blowing electric guitar.
'Universal Cry For Help', 'Choke Down' and 'Double-Headed Coin' continue to keep up the standard, combining huge, crunching hooks and double-kick drumming to monstrous effect. While these tracks are nearly always hostile and aggressive, with a raw, spiky sound, Long Time Dead still manage to maintain gigantic melodies to create songs that, despite their harshness, are extremely easy to listen to.
The album, impressively, comes in at just over the hour, with most of the tracks averaging at about the five minute mark, while one or two manage to break the seven minute barrier, in true epic metal style. Whilst the overwhelming influence of so many heavy metal greats might be frustrating or seem unimaginative to some listeners, it doesn't detract from the fact that Long Time Dead have produced a gigantic album, proving that British trash metal is still alive and kicking.
10/13
TERRORISER MAGAZINE
REVIEW BY JO PITCHES
Rory Bremner may soon find himself signing on at the Job Centre if Long Time Dead's Matt Owen can impersonate other celebrities half as well
as he does James Hetfield. This four-piece from Stoke-On-Trent have to be the closest a band could get to being classed a Metallica tribute
act without actually playing covers. Just a pity they take inspiration from the (cringe) 'St Anger' period rather than the far superior
pre-‘Black Album’ days. Personal taste aside, though, the quartet's debut full-length is brimming with crunching riffs, meaty grooves and
oodles of wah-drenched solos, all discharged with lashings of energy. However, it seems LTD have yet to forge a style of their own;
at present it's simply too close to that of their heroes. Strip away the Metallica-inspired numbers and you’re left
with Megadeth ('Right My Wrongs'). Promising - but the prospect of an appearance on 'Stars In Their Eyes' is a little too close for comfort.
(5.5)
FEEDBACK (ISSUE82)
REVIEW BY KEV ROLAND
Like label mates Razorwire (reviewed later), this outfit hail from Stoke, and are mighty heavy. Musically however, they are a long way removed from both Head Hung Low and Razorwire as they have taken early Metallica as a starting point, then brought in bands of similar ilk such as Megadeth
and possibly even Iron Maiden. What is so positive about the band is that while they are more than happy to thrash it out and provide plenty of energy (such as on “Half-Cocked Smile” which is currently featuring on Scuzz for those with Sky), but they can also rein it back in while never losing the menace.
This is NWOBHM with an increased tempo and plenty of passion.
This issue is the first time that I have reviewed anything from Psychophonic, but for those interested in good British metal then it is definitely a label to look out for. www.psychophonic.co.uk
FROM METAL HAMMER, OCTOBER 2004
BRITISH THASHERS WANT TO KILL EM ALL
SOMEONE has been listening to rather a lot of vintage Metallica, if this powerful debut is anything to go by; riffs piled on top of riffs, rapid fire solos widdle past in a furious flurry of fingers and it all sounds extremely professional. All of which isn’t surprising when you consider that this lot from Stoke On Trent have been spanking their planks for around seven years, touring, writing and chucking out the odd demo and EP along the way. The cool thing about LTD, however, is just how gloriously, shamelessly old school they are and although its easy to spot the influences – Megadeth, Slayer, Iron Maiden and a good helping of Diamond Head – its pulled off with great panache and freshness. Obviously, this lot write decent songs but sonically it’s boosted no end by some experienced production work courtesy of Paul Siddens and Simon Reeve; Siddens has worked with Napalm Death, Crowbar and Charger.
Go On; get some British metal up yer!
Essi Berelian (7/10)
FROM THE MUSKETEER OF DEATH
Wow, this is how THRASH metal needs to sound. This is dirty, brutal and catchy! Where a lot of reputable acts are off target Long Time Dead walks all over them. From the first tones of "Half-cocked smile" till the last ones of "Re-devolve" this album is gripping and feels like a real slap in the face.
The sound is raw, dirty and absolutely full of adrenaline. Playful as a puppy, which makes you sing the songs after a couple of times, still without being robbed of the necessary power and brutality. This is old school with a new-style flavour and really makes my blood float faster through my veins.
The songs have great structures, are power-overloaded and have an incredible driving force. The guitars howl from time to time and are in plain terms prodigious. The sound gets real enforced by some stunning drum escapades and the rich bass provides it all with a refined veracious power. The vocals are clean with a harsh touch and have a penetrating effect. It's full of body, passion and gives the songs a real profundity. In some fragments they are distorted, which gives the whole a little extra body.
"Alone" is a bit different than the rest of the track. It sounds a bit like a grunge ballad with a thrashy flavour in the end.
With this album the thrashers of Long Time Dead are close to their live sound. And everyone who has ever seen this band live knows what this means.
FROM "THE PIT OF DOOM"
WWW.LEARNEDROBB.TK
Thrash lives! Oh yes. And Long Time Dead are the living, breathing proof of this. LTD are another product of the fertile underground metal scene of Staffordshire, and appear on the Phychophonic Records label, home to Razorwire (and founded by their rhythm guitarist Dan Peach).
Anyways, I can just here you all crying "So tell us about the fucking album already!", so thats just what Im gonna do. 'Universal Cry For Help' is precision thrash very much in the vein of Megadeth. Other bands that appear to inform LTD must surely include Metallica, Judas Priest, Pantera, and Slayer.....cos I can sure as hell hear them in there.
So, the album consists of 12 tracks..each one of them (including the intor) is pretty damn good.Stand out tracks? I dunno, becasue LTD are so fucking consistent on this cd its hard to pick one. And unlike many indie releases it sounds fucking good too, partly in thanks to the experienced hand of producer Paul 'Bag' Siddens (Naplam Death, Crowbar, Razorwire) and engineer Simon Reeves.
So, buy this album says I. Buy it now. Sell your gran if you have to, but buy it!
Rating:5Fiends
Buy it now!
FROM WWW.ROCKBEAST.COM
With a similar sound to Metallica Long Time Dead are on the right track to bringing British thrash metal to the front of the pack and at times sounding so similar to Metallica that if this album was by Metallica it would have sold millions by now yet Long Time Dead are still captivating the underground metal sound. On Livevil you can really hear James Hetfield in Will’s vocals that are backed by the pounding drums and infectious guitar riffs you could even go as far as saying this is an album that Metallica should have released instead of St. Anger bringing in awesome guitar solos that drive through out the album. For a debut album Long Time Dead have it spot on and should bring them the attention they deserve and I can honestly see them go very far and it won’t be long before you see them in bigger venues.
