Hertfordshire band Raze offer up a captivating sound that combines a grungey rawness with modern metal grooves and technical guitar solos. The result is pretty special, with soaring vocals and solos countered by powerful riffs and rhythms in a sound they describe as “powerful, intricate and compelling.”
The band first started out in 2014 when frontman Louis Dunham was at college, but a host of changes over the years leave him as the sole remaining founding member. He’s now joined by guitarists Daniel Eveleigh and Jack Ilott, bassist Sam Trueman and drummer Ethan Morter, who formed the final lineup at the end of last year.
And on the sound the new lineup offers, Louis tells us: “We deliver a high energy, dynamic polymer of grunge and metal, delivering fat grooves alongside intricate clean passages and soaring leads.”
The result of that is the band’s debut album Pyrography, which will be released on 28 July and successfully encompasses their grungey metal approach. The record has been years in the making and is stacked with edgy riffs, soaring vocals and intricately complex structures.
On the album, Louis said: We’re so excited and proud to be releasing Pyrography – some of these songs we’ve been sitting on a while and it’ll be really great to get them out into the world. Long-term fans will have heard some of the tunes live, they (and new listeners also) can expect a full studio production of what we think are some really great tracks.”
From the album, Louis picks out penultimate track Mellow // Breeze as one to look out for, telling us: “I think it’s the most ‘finely crafted’ of all the songs on the album. Very elaborate, very dynamic. It was great to hear that one recorded.” We had a sneak preview and the track opens up with light guitars that flow into a laid-back opening verse. The engaging vocals continue alongside a cool lick but the track picks up pace as heavier guitars support a more intense chorus. Cool stabbing guitars kick in and tee up a big solo, which gradually picks up pace and finishes with an impressive flourish to bring the track to a dramatic ending.
You can get a taste for the album, with a few singles already released from it. That includes the excellent title track Pyrography, which opens up with a delicious light guitar lick that continues under Louis’ engaging vocals through the opening verse. Heavier guitars jump in as the vocals intensify through a powerful chorus, then the lick returns alongside palm-muted guitars creating an edgier second verse. A second chorus drops into a flickering lick with light guitars and drums building the atmosphere as it builds towards a huge guitar solo, which sets up a huge final blast of the chorus. Check out this stunning track in the video below:
More recently released is Blue-Sky Vengeance, which brings the album to a powerful ending. It opens up with a piercing guitar lick that drops into engaging vocals and chugging guitar chords. It builds nicely into a moody chorus led by Louis’ powerful vocals backed by rolling drums. A second chorus drops into a light lick that supports a cheeky little bass solo, setting up a heavy conclusion.
And the most recent single from the album is Maple, which is the opening track of the album. It begins with a repeating guitar and cymbals that give way to a powerful section of guitar chords. Light vocals open up “I thought why not try to write something positive, Somehow maybe I could make a change, ‘Cos I cannot stand to see unhappiness happen to anyone,” before exploding into heavier vocals and guitars. Check it out here:
There’s plenty to get excited about on this impressive debut album, including its first single release Better Off Alone and C. exigua. However, we have to shout out the superb Roachman that takes things to a new level heaviness-wise with vicious screamed vocals countered by delicious guitar excellence – you’re definitely going to want to check this track out when the album’s released.
As alluded to, the Raze sound draws on a wide range of influences from grunge and post-grunge bands like Alter Bridge and Alice In Chains to heavier, groovier bands like Machine Head, Pantera and Lamb Of God.
And on what inspires them to write music, Louis tells us: “Our music is emotionally expressive, with deliberately speculative lyrics. I write about matters personal to me, however I like to paint lyrics with colours and imagery, and leave the rest open to interpretation. That way the music is more relatable for whoever is listening.”
Raze’s debut album Pyrography is released on Friday 28 July. The band will be out on tour through August to promote the album, starting with a show at The Horn in St. Albans on 29 July. They’ll also be releasing new video content, possibly some remixes of the album tracks, with even more new music coming in the future.
And Louis adds: “I’d like to say to everyone who’s read this far, firstly thank you. And secondly, take a listen to what we’re doing! And thanks to everyone who’s supported us thus far, you’re the reason we do what we do.”
You can follow Raze on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music and YouTube.
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