Out of the depths of the freezing cold lands of Russia comes Instorm and their sophomore effort Taming the Chaos. From the menacing introduction, the album takes you on a ride around melody town, demonstrating influences from European melodic giants which should please many seasoned listeners.
The production is decent and feels true to the performance of the band. Nemtsev’s voice is strong and sometimes ventures into Black Metal Territory which fits the music surprising well. I do feel that the guitar tone, especially for the solo work, could have been beefed up a bit, and some focus on precision wouldn’t go astray. But this album is a firm stance for a band beginning to make some inroads.
I don’t want to get pulled into a genre battle, but while Instorm labels themselves as melodic metal I hear a distinct influence of folk death metal in there, which can bring some of its own heavy baggage. There is a certain ‘cheesiness to folk death as opposed to melodic metal – something doesn’t always add up in terms of the playful flavour of the melodies and the aggressive intent of the voice and other instruments. But Instorm does this better than most so you can breathe a sigh of relief. Two highlights for me in this album are; the beginning of Reach for the Sky, with its interesting exploration of slower and more stripped back melody and; the vocal elements in Faith Path, which showcases the potential of what this band could become with further releases.
Watch this space as I have a feeling Instorm will begin to grow in the coming years. Suitable for those who want to wear a pirate suit to work but not be laughed at.
Release Year: 2018
Label: Metal Carnival Records
Category: Album
Country: Russia
Reviewed by Liam Frost-Camilleri
