November finally sees the release of the long-awaited debut of UK supergroup City Of God, a project which came about in late 2004, featuring past and present members of Kill II This, Xentrix and Paradise Lost. Expectations will be high among those who are familiar with their previous work, but upon careful listening, there is no doubt that A New Spiritual Mountain delivers on all fronts...and then some!
Many listeners will find traces of mainman Mark Mynett's previous band Kill II This in the lyrics. Never one to shy away from voicing his opinions, however controversial some may deem them to be, Mynett has produced some of his most scathing attacks yet (the song titles say it all!). However, musically COG are a different proposition altogether, eschewing the techno-Metal influences so prominent in Kill II This, in favour of a more organic Metal approach. It's an approach which works brilliantly, as the album is bolstered by some excellent lead guitar work throughout (particularly Requiem and the instrumental Stigmata), complemented by a solid rhythm section and a crystal-clear production.
It is hard to choose one highlight from an album which is so consistent and almost flawless in it's execution. While some may bemoan the fact that 5 of the 13 tracks are instrumentals, leaving only 8 songs at a running time of barely 40 minutes, this is the sound of a band who have collectively drawn on their years of experience, to create an album which WILL stand the test of time. The sheer quality of tracks such as the stunning opener When Broken Glass Floats and the title track itself will ensure that along with Biomehanical, City Of God are a band who will take British Metal in exciting new directions.
All in all, what we have here is a stunning album, one of the best debuts in Metal since Machine Head's legendary Burn My Eyes, way back in 1994. A New Spiritual Mountain is an album which packs a huge punch but with the emphasis remaining firmly on great songwriting, never sacrificing melody or memorable hooks. Finally the UK has a band who can challenge the likes of God Forbid, Killswitch Engage and the like. Watch them go!