False Gharial is a progressive metal band haling from Singapore, and back in September the duo, comprised of Francois Labrousse and Hatem Ben Aicha, put out their sophomore EP release “Tragic Demise.”
The recording contains strong blasting riffs, which are otherwise inherently catchy and actually suit the vocalist incredibly well. They are bludgeoning when paired with vicious vocals. The singer simply has such an intense level of passion and energy, like he pours his heart and soul into the music. The best example of this can be heard throughout the EP, but as highlights I would mentioned the opening “Delusional Waters,” “Suicide Forest,” and “Lockdown.”
The masterful use of the heavy verse/melodic chorus style of songwriting makes this release incredibly varied. “Tragic Demise” is all about balance of heaviness and melody. The instrumentation on the album is brought to perfection, and although the band’s technical skills are easy to notice, Aicha and Labrousse work in favor of displaying a balance between masterful craftsmanship and performance.
“Tragic Demise” is one of those releases that is just as good the first time you listen to it as it is the fiftieth. It's one of those rare cases where it never gets old, yet it doesn't take any time to grow on you. Whether you're a seasoned metal listener or someone who is just discovering heavy music, this album will appeal to you in some way or another. It's incredibly technical and precise in its execution, yet it allows enough melody in to keep it from sounding like a typical instrumental wank fest.
The EP is available from Bandcamp.
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