Divide And Rule

Pokerface

Enthusiasm can sometimes spill over into madness. Zeal can be a fickle thing, and for […]
By Anton Sanatov
July 5, 2016
Pokerface - Divide And Rule album cover

Enthusiasm can sometimes spill over into madness. Zeal can be a fickle thing, and for a lot of new bands that are trying to leave their mark, it is the spark of warmth amidst the brutal blizzard of the music industry. However, that same spark can also quite easily jump out of the campfire and the set the surrounding trees ablaze.

New bands, particularly those traversing the heavier Metal frontiers, often misplace their hungry eagerness and end up diverting their youthful energies into mindless batteries; thus succumbing to the numbing snow storms of a saturated scene. In this industry, winter is always breathing down your neck. And you would be hard-pressed to find ones colder than those that freeze the lands of Russia on a yearly basis; trust me, as a native I know what I am talking about. And even though the Moscow outfit POKERFACE know how stay warm on their effort "Divide And Rule", at times they rub the firewood into breaking with too much avidity.

When writing a Metal record, a band - especially a Thrash band - has to be able to control their 'zeal for steel'; otherwise any given song would succumb to messy annihilation before it even gets a chance to solidify. And upon cranking "Divide And Rule" I could help but note that exact, overbearing excess that turns a well of potential into an unsustainable source of banality.

That is not to say that this is not a good record. "Divide And Rule" is pure Thrash. Yet whilst the band's commitment to their genre is intense and more than incendiary, their fire burns hot but dim, for tracks like "All is Lie", "The Chessboard Killer" and "Human Control" make no attempt to go beyond formulaic chugging and tiresome blast beats.

Alas, amidst the obligatory thrashing that is customary of any self-respected Thrash outfit, POKERFACE do surprise the listener with a few interesting numbers - ones that go beyond physical assault. "Kingdom of Hate" feature a cool, darkly haughty riff - that echoes of Doom Metal - and "Existence", "Killed by Me" as well as the title track also make some effort to colour the album with some experimental tempo changes and fresh riffing. Yet unfortunately for the majority of the record the band remains in their chaotic comfort zone without taking a breath; an impressive physical feat, but essentially a tedious display of power.

The production on the record had me divided (ironically). On one hand, the mix is adequate, and the style of production coincides with the intentions of the record; being quite raw and thick, whilst at the same keeping the instruments perfectly audible - with the bass in particular, which sounds like its been laced with construction rods for strings. Unfortunately the recordings also sound rather flat and bland, failing to achieve any climactic moments throughout the record (although the songwriting is perhaps to blame). The guitar tone too is highly uninspired, applying the typical juvenile sinking of the 'mids' coupled with insane gain, which, though appropriate, sounds far too vapid.

The performances of the band members on the other hand - given their insatiable gusto - are great; particularly the vocals of front woman Delirium, whose brutality has no bounds.

Overall, whilst this record is solid, it is a bit too pallid to be great. Nevertheless, if you're a Thrash Metal junkie, then you'll have a taste for "Divide And Rule", but otherwise you'll most likely will find it to be just another opening act that keeps the room tepid before the headliner brings the fire.<

6 / 10

Had Potential

Songwriting

6

Musicianship

5

Memorability

4

Production

7
"Divide And Rule" Track-listing:
  1. All is Lie
  2. Kingdom of Hate
  3. The Chessboard Killer
  4. Existence
  5. Into the Inferno
  6. Human Control
  7. Age of Terrorism
  8. Killed by Me
  9. Shut Up!
  10. Divide and Rule
Pokerface Lineup:

Delirium - Vocals
Whitevad - Lead Guitars
Maniac - Lead Guitars
DedMoroz - Bass Guitar,
Doctor - Drums, Percussion
Nick - Songwriter, Sound Producer

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