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By JEFF MAKI
California's Bay area has long been a breeding ground for thrash metal, making it an integral part of heavy metal history. Please welcome the next generation of Bay area thrashers led by Light This City. Combining the classic sound of ‘80s thrash with melodic death metal, such as At The Gates, In Flames and Carcass, Light This City is a band to watch. Led by frontwoman Laura Nichol's high-pitched, Carcass-like scream, this group of 20-year-olds churns out an impressive album with Facing the Thousand, their third release and second for Prosthetic Records.
Upon listening, you would never know a female fronts this band. In fact, I didn't even realize it until reading through their biography and double-checking the band's official web site. This sounds like no woman. Facing the Thousand is intense and melodic with memorable guitar harmonies and never lets up. The highly-skilled guitar playing is evident on "The Unwelcome Savior," which is reminiscent of early In Flames. "The Maddening Swarm"'s chugging double-bass and riffs lead to Nichol's shrieking vocals. "City of the Snares" opens with a riff that could have been on Iron Maiden's Fear of the Dark, before turning into a how-to of melodic death. “The Eagle” and “Fear of Heights” show a strong Swedish metal influence with their melodic, speed-metal assaults. The album’s closer, "Like Every Song's Our Last," begins in strikingly similar fashion to In Flames’ "Ordinary Story" but is solid nonetheless.
Light This City is a highly talented young band. It doesn't seem natural for their sound to be this polished and tight this early in their career. Facing the Thousand's influences are evident for any true fan of metal. But with no more Carcass or At the Gates and In Flames straying further from their roots, maybe it is time for Light This City to take the reins. As they mature, I only expect greater things from Light This City. That being said, no fan of extreme metal will be disappointed with Facing the Thousand.
www.lightthiscity.com
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