FURYON – Gravitas (2012)

Having picked up a name for themselves over the last few years as a UK band to keep your eye on, Brighton’s FURYON have finally signed to Frontiers Records for the release of their debut full-length album “Gravitas”, and what a debut it is.

Combining the swagger of classic British Hard Rock bands, the dynamics of modern metal and a sense of the ’90s heaviness, the songs in “Gravitas” are played with heart, no doubt having been finely honed around the clubs that the band have been playing since their formation, and the musicianship is similar to that of a band that have been playing together forever.
Consisting of vocalist Matt Mitchell, guitarists Chris Green and Pat Heath, bass player Alex Bowen and drummer Lee Farmery, Furyon grab the listener from the opening guitar invitations of first track “Disappear Again”, and never releases until it is ready to depart when it chooses.
The song epitomises the whole album, infectious, intelligent and unafraid to court the ear with addictive melodies, heavily loaded riffs and a catchiness which is hard to deny submission to.

Following track “Stand Like Stone” immediately shows the diversity of the band’s sound and stylings. Its heavy tumbling rhythms and formidable metallic riffs burst through the ear. With a groove that beckons like a loose woman the song fills every pore with well crafted melodies and the impressive vocals of Mitchell.
In two songs he sets the quality of his tones and delivery, something that never drops throughout the album. The guitars and melodies are quite wanton, eager to excite and thrill, which they do with incredible songwriting skills and realisation.

Songs like the excellent “Souvenirs” with its lovely deep crusty bass lines, the mainstream radio feel of “New Way Of Living” offering a glorious and dense hard rock majesty, and the mesmeric “Wasted On You”, come and go with wonderful quality and the ability to light up the senses.
The CD actually hits its peak around the mid-way point, with the slinky rocker “Voodoo Me” and one of the album highlights, “Fear Alone”, with echoes of soulful nineties looser hard rock.
There is one track that eclipses all though, and that is the magnificent “Desert Suicide”, a song which marks that Furyon isn’t just another band of the herd. Structured with a mystical and a subdued atmosphere, the guitars slow to reveal themselves. Soon it evolves into a mighty beast of sound, slowly pacing around the ear before its muscular legs start to run with the senses though it never explodes outright. An addictive yet unpredictable track; the height of invention without indulgence, a stirring animal that remains inside long after the album departs.

Most of you must remember the well-regarded British 2000’s melodic hard rock band Pride. Vocalist Matt Mitchell and guitar player Chris Green where members of Pride, but part ways to found a more rocking oriented band, and Furyon born.
“Gravitas” is a mighty slab of really well crafted songs infused with traditional hard rock, metal and classic rock influences, all wrapped into a truly unique and contemporary hard hitting sound that will stand the test of time.
You will be  by the creativity and the technically challenging yet infectiously catchy musicianship of Furyon.
Simply, “Gravitas” is one of the most compelling, notable and promising debuts by a British heavy rock band in years, and a great indicator of greater things to come for Furyon.
Highly Recommended.

01 – Disappear Again
02 – Stand Like Stone
03 – Souvenirs
04 – Don’t Follow
05 – New Way Of Living
06 – Voodoo Me
07 – Fear Alone
08 – Wasted On You
09 – Our Peace Someday
10 – Desert Suicide
11 – Voodoo Me (acoustic) [Bonus Track]
12 – Souvenirs (acoustic) [Bonus Track]

Matt Mitchell – Vocals
Chris Green – Guitars
Pat Heath – Guitars
Alex “Nickel” Bowen – Bass
Lee Farmery – Drums

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