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Review: Honey For Christ - The Darkest Pinnacle of Light
Honey For Christ
www.honeyforchrist.co.uk
The Darkest Pinnacle of Light

Label: Rundown Records
Year released: 2005
Duration: 25:36
Tracks: 5
Genre: Heavy Metal

Rating:
4.75/5


Review online: January 7, 2007
Reviewed by: Lars Christiansen
Readers' Rating
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Rated 3/5 (60%) (2 Votes)
Review

Not having any expectations about an album before listening to it can work in your favor sometimes, and although I had heard the band name banded around in UK zines here and there, if someone asked me what style of metal they play, I would have had no idea. I was highly impressed by what Honey for Christ have come up with on this, their 2nd release. Coming from Ireland, I figured they'd sound somewhat Celtic, but with Metal Archives having their genre down as 'Heavy Metal', I really wasn't expecting what I heard.

The EP kicks off abruptly with a thrashy death metal riff, not too dissimilar to Bolt Thower with low tuned shredding guitars and blasting drums – not what I was expecting at all. However, the big surprise is when the vocals kick in, from the blasting intro I was expecting harsh death metal vocals, but no, clean vocals in the main with a few thick throaty roars here and there. I can hear comparisons to fellow countrymen Primordial in the music, as well as a big lean toward My Dying Bride on some of the more crooning vocal parts, and dual guitar-line harmonies. This is not to say they're ripping either band off, as Honey for Christ have definitely claimed a little niche for themselves with this EP. The thing that does it for me on this release I think is the vocals though, they're so emotion filled (again, similarly to the aforementioned Primordial), and could actually match Aaron of My Dying Bride for sorrow and angst (yes, and I'm not talking Kurt Cobain angst either). Plus on the few occasions when the vocalist Andy Clarke screams, he actually sounds like he's going to lose an eye.

Some of the riffs on display are also slightly reminiscent of 'Dark Metal' era Bethlehem too (see 'Sorrow Descending' for the best example), but I don't want to keep making comparisons, as I feel it's detrimental to the band who show heart through conveying such pure emotion on a vast scale, and create enough original passages to garner my interest, and most importantly respect for not going with the flow. A refreshing change.

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