When vocal behemoth Howard Jones left metalcore icons Killswitch Engage back in 2012, he joined Devil You Know and largely flew under the radar of most folk. Two albums were released in 2014 and 2015, following the same metalcore pattern and being largely uneventful. Then in 2017, following a legal dispute, Devil You Know became Light the Torch and their spark was found. Pushing aside the typical metalcore tropes and focussing more on the legendary voice of their frontman, Light The Torch are now onto their second album You Will Be the Death of Me.
It seems a little silly in hindsight not to have put Howard Jones front and centre of the showpiece. He is one of the defining vocalisers to come out of the post 2000 metal scene. During his time with Killswitch Engage, his clean and scream vocals could stand toe to toe with anyone. However, his clean vocals have a soaring power and intensity that can make any song memorable. Light The Torch primarily make sure of his extraordinary clean vocals, in an arena friendly melodic metal style. Full of singalong choruses and chuggy rhythms.
You Will be the Death of Me is 43 minutes of straight forward pumping melodic metal. Each song varies between the downtuned heavy and softer melodic type. There isn’t a huge amount of variation, and some of the songs can be indistinguishable. However you generally don’t care too much when listening to it, each track very much riding on the back of the completely unsurprising stunning vocal work.
Something Deep Inside is the hidden gem on the album, with a heavy dose of 80’s flavour. A snippet of Howard‘s soulful screeching also making an appearance. Sign Your Name may have been a hit for Terence Trent D’Arby back in 1987, but closing out the album here it sounds particularly glorious. Howard‘s vocals giving you all the feels. Don’t pretend it doesn’t.
If this was any other band with any other vocalist, it would simply be a decent arena friendly metal album. However, the stunning vocal work by the legend that is Howard Jones allows You Will Be the Death of Me to ascend to much greater heights. So just sit back, don’t obsess over pushing boundaries or modern djenty nonsense, and appreciate one of the finest vocalists of a generation.
Score: 7/10
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