Leach - Slice of Life - Song Review - Contemporary Melodic Metal from Borås, Sweden
Another surreal Friday, another consistent weather pattern in greyish tones and low in contrast, similar to yesterday, the day before, and the day before that here in Helsinki. Today, I am writing about a hot prospect, Leach, hailing from Borås, Sweden, and featuring their most recent single release, "Slice of Life," that was released on March 12th, 2024.
LEACH - SLICE OF LIFE (OFFICIAL AI VIDEO). Produced by Dante Torrieri (Dropout Media). From the album "New Model of Disbelief".
It took only one listening session of "Slice of Life" to make up my mind about the song and the capabilities of Leach, as I assume was the aim from their side. Undoubtedly, Leach qualifies themselves as another talented metal band from Sweden, carrying the language, energy, and climate from their origins along with international qualities well-presented in this song.
Musically, the song incorporates melodic, Scandinavian, and death metal influences in its musical language, immediately reminding me of established melodic death metal acts such as Lamb of God and In Flames. It doesn't really matter whether you define the music as death metal or not; the fact is that the collective showcases enough talent and vision in their work, which has enough quality to get them to big stages and festivals in the future.
Structurewise, "Slice of Life" stands out for its approach that evoked memories of the '90s metal, avoiding any indirect ways of storytelling and song structuring. In their case, everything was built as it was earlier, following a familiar path of verses and choruses while keeping the listener attached, never losing the excitement until the end, which marks another feature similar to the origins of their subgenre of melodic death metal.
In terms of production, the song explores contemporary soundscapes with well-produced monstrous guitars, drums, and bass that were led by a vocalist who stood out for his characteristic voice and singing style. While the vocalist here plays a leading role and carries Leach further, his tone positions the band somewhere between modern, melodic, thrash, and melodic death metal. From my perspective, his character and tone in singing were one of the main reasons that distinguished this band from others, positioning him among the indispensable elements of the collective. They are now on their way to the recognition they deserve from the metal community, as showcased in this banger.
On the other side of the coin, I don't have any weaknesses to mention. Objectively, "Slice of Life" has all the necessary quality to make an impact on the listener while leaving no questions behind about the collective, their objective, aesthetics, experience, or talents. Although well-produced sounds with no room have never been my favorite metal sound, I am highly satisfied with Leach's approach to their craft.
In conclusion, it has been a great pleasure discovering yet another Swedish talent. Sharp, direct, and precise. Leach incorporates all the necessities of melodic metal accompanied by well-produced contemporary soundscapes, positioning themselves among the finest hot-prospects from Sweden. Thank you for reading.
Leach on the Web:
Continue your journey through the metal underground; our 'Monsters of Metal Underground' playlist is your guide to the next big names in metal.
