THREAT SIGNAL ‘Vigilance’ (Nuclear Blast) RATING: 7.5/10

By RYAN MAVITY

Canada’s Threat Signal is a relative newcomer to the metal game, having formed in 2003 and released its first album three years later. Its newest release, Vigilance, shows a band taking baby steps to being major players in the metalcore/melodic death metal genres, but one that also is not quite there yet.

There are plenty of meaty riffs to go around on Vigilance—courtesy of guitarists Travis Montgomery and Adam Weber—especially on the first single, “Through My Eyes,” and “The Beginning of the End.” The latter features some nice double bass work from drummer Norman Kileen. Vocalist Jon Howard, the only band member that’s been around since its inception, has a throaty, almost high-pitched voice similar to Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington. Howard mixes his screams with hard-edged melodies, such as on the sure-to-be-a-mosh-pit-favorite  “United We Stand.” Throughout the album, Howard leans on anthemic choruses and, at times, almost spiritual lyrics, especially on “Beyond Recognition” and the heavy ballad “Another Source of Light.” “Hate Machine” comes with Jesus references.

The best track might be the slower but powerful ballad “Lost,” which starts with an acoustic intro and features some cool solos and sweeps from Montgomery and Weber. “Lost” also shows what I think keeps the album from being really good: a lack variation in the band’s attack. Most of the songs follow a similar playbook: heavy riff, shouted vocals, double kick drum, hands-in-the-air chorus, repeat. While the band plays this style well, it starts to get a little repetitive after a while. Some of the tracks don’t quite work, such as “Afterlife,” “Severed” and “Escape from Reality.”

There is a good deal to like on Vigilance, and the closer, “To Remember,” ends things on a strong note. Threat Signal has the skills, musically, to be a top metalcore band. Now, it’s just a matter of getting the right songs.