Metalcore is a diverse genre where a lot of bands incorporate different characters into the original sound to discover new sub-genres. For example, when Metalcore meets Gothenburg we have Melodic Metalcore; when Melodic Metalcore goes BTBAM we have Progressive Metalcore; and this list goes on. The point is that there are no stable guidelines in the field of Metalcore, as most of the bands influenced by Metalcore simply denominate their genre as ______core. STEELFALL is one such band. Their stylistic inclination is very diverse, as we get huge chunks of different layers in their songs. Formed in 2016 these talented musicians (hailing from Portugal) wasted no time as they recorded and released their debut album "The Event Horizon" in the year 2017.

"The Event Horizon" flaunts 11 melodious tracks, all of them written within a year. As the opening notes of "Open Your Eyes" begin it's hard not to get immersed into their music. Following the splendid intro is a mix of screams and well executed 'cleans'. It is clear that the screams/growls are directly influenced by the Death Metal acts. It is this balanced equation of Death Metal Growls and 'clean singing' that nails the vocal parts. Apart from the exemplary vocal works, STEELFALL made sure to keep their instrumentation at a relative position as the guitarists work hard to deliver their best as the solos are well arranged and quite complex as well.

Double bass drum kicks are very much essential for Metal these days; with the only Metal Drummer to succeeded using genuine single bass kicks being none other than the infamous IRON MAIDEN skinsman Nicko Mcbrain. When people questioned him about his prolific talent he simply answered that he grew up learning single pedal techniques. When I first went through the STEELFALL tracks, I misinterpreted that they use single bass kicks, but it was the title track "The Event Horizon" where the real taste of double bass kicks comes into play. Alongside the genuinely executed melodious solos, the splendid drum fills help hide the problematic transitions while switching the solos with lead guitars. Melodic Death Metal vibes stay strong as the intro for "The Unspoken Heroes" portrays typical Melo Death Riffs integrated with the steady drumming. The song is structured in a way where both of the vocalists sing in such a way that appears to be a conversation between them achieved by authentic sample swaps. Melodic Metalcore acts these days are often criticised for less complex structures and the over use of djenty guitar riffs overshadowing the bass patterns. Luckily enough we get a different experience on the first half of the album, but the band decides to take the downtempo guitar notes to work as the second half of the album is structured and bordered as typical Melo-Metalcore with the absence of solos, which is a big drawback to their music. Even though one might not prefer the less-complex songs, the tracks are catchy enough to appeal to the listener.

"The Fall of Man" starts with a sweet intro followed by a typical Melo Metalcore structure. Unlike their previous expedition, the succeeding songs are all less complex, yet nonetheless catchy. With intense breakdowns substituting the solos, the second half of the album is more radio friendly, which will surely captivate all the fans of Melodic(Nu)Metalcore bands like BRING ME THE HORIZON and BAD OMENS. Speaking of radio friendly tracks, the final track "No Time To Waste" is the best track, and is sure to get extra spins on the radio. More Rock than Metal the final track appeals to the listeners, but the lack of memorable solos still gives the track less complexity. With a solid opening set list no one wants the breakdowns to takeover the solos, however, this is done so as to appeal to different hues of listeners, starting from Rock to Prog Metal and finally Metalcore and Alternative Metal.

Overall, the band did take us through a lot of different aspects of music with a heavy influence of a lot of bands in the likes of TRIVIUM, AS I LAY DYING and SOILWORK. I love the fact that the band tried to follow a versatile route with their sound, ranging from Progressive to even Rock. This album is a must listen for anyone in search of some melody, but I am not sure whether the album would appeal to Metallic Hardcore listeners - though it is still worth a try. To sum up the album in a few words: a perfect first half with the second half requiring a bit of more work. Looking forward for their future works with more maturity and complexity.<