To make what many can call as Modern Metal, it demands the knowledge to build strong and heavy songs with charming melodies, catchy choruses and a lot of musical talent (what some clones from the so called Old School Metal lacks completely). And along with that, to record a first release during a live show isn't commonly useful, because it can give the wrong idea of what the band does. But the Israeli quartet HARTSBANE dare to do such thing on their first release, a five-song EP called "As Summer Dies", and got a very good result.

Their music really sounds new and charming due the use of modern melodies, in a way that is similar to the bands that are success between teen music fans, bands like BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and AVENGED SEVENFOLD (but not stigmatizing their work in anyway). It has excellent vocals, a solid work from bass guitar and drums, and the aggressiveness comes from the guitars (that uses modern greasy tunes to create very good riffs and melodic solos), all to create solid songs with catching choruses. Yes, they're really good. The EP was mixed by Ofer Dvir and mastered by Yuval Silberstein, and even recorded in a live performance; it sounds clear and heavy, with a very good choice for the instrumental tunes. Nothing is hidden on their songs, what means that the capitation of the musical instruments and vocals was done in a careful way.

"Tame" and "Nobody Knows" shares the same features: excellent melodies that are easy to be assimilated by the listener and bearing charming choruses (and very good vocals and backing vocals on both songs). On "Substitute", the things become a bit more accessible, as the melodies are simple to understand (and the guitars are doing a very good work, indeed, both on riffs and solo). And a touch of melancholy permeates the melodies of "As Summer Dies", where a good work from bass guitar and drums can be heard. And to close the EP, an acoustic song, "Tomorrow's Rain", focused solely on vocals and acoustic guitars.

As a first coming, "As Summer Dies" is a fine release, but HARTSBANE deserves a full album, indeed.