Although genres are only ever a rough guideline, they are useful in pinning bands down to a particular sound, which is a useful tool when describing a new(ish) band. 'Nemesis Within' is Assailant's debut album following their 2005 demo 'Mental State'. They are not to be confused with the similarly Swedish power metal band also named Assailant. So I guess this Assailant, hailing from Umea in Sweden, most closely resemble prog power metal, but there are many threads contributing to the tangle which results in their style.

The first track, 'Lies', has elements of folk metal and reminds me of bands such as Nomansland and a less extreme Finntroll (imagine Finntroll without the 'drinking song' quality to their music). Indeed, there is a certain folk quality to the keys throughout the album - sometimes they sound a bit like an accordion - and at other times it is more progressive in style.

The keys are used for melody rather than atmospheric synth work, akin to bands such as Stride. It also reminds me of Van Halen, and I'm thinking more particularly of 'Jump'.

Being based in power metal, Assailant use a lot of riffing in their music but they also sound quite like melodic death at times, with passing resemblances to Arch Enemy or today's Hypocrisy, particularly on the second track, oddly enough sharing its name with Hypocrisy's 'Buried Alive' from their 'The Arrival' album.

On the whole the composition is more tightly reigned in than progressive metal, and there is a good deal of chugging which may appeal to those with a taste for the heavy, on top of which is a layer of light, widdly guitars (again, a bit Van Halen at times) or keys and then the vocals.

The music twists and turns, quickly changing but manages, for the most part, not to be too intense or over-complex unlike some of the more extreme prog metal bands.

The vocals in general are a little gruff for my taste, as though Peder Sundqvist is trying too hard. It has the same rasping quality as Brian Johnson of AC/DC, which for me gets a little hard-wearing over the whole album.

However at times they are quite pleasant - such as at the start of 'Tomorrow', or the perfectly held note on 'Vanity Unfolds', so all that is needed is to smooth the rough edges a little. The best vocalists hold something in reserve, resulting in an effortless, relaxed performance. Of course it may be that the band prefer the rock n roll 'whisky ‘n' cigarettes' style of vocals.

Assailant's 'Nemisis Within' is a good debut album with a few flaws. I would imagine the sort of person that wouldn't like it much would be the sort of person that would have stopped reading after I said the word 'keys' - which I will not criticise because if you don't like keys this album is unlikely to convince you. However if you can tolerate or even - shock, horror - like keys with your fast-moving, widdly, chugging metal, then Assailant are the band for you.

***½

Review by Amanda Hyne

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