City of Vultures

City of Vultures

On its debut album, Rise to Remain makes a strong bid to enter the front ranks of British metalcore with a batch of hellacious tunes rendered with intensity and precision. The London-based quintet attracted early attention thanks to lead vocalist Austin Dickinson—son of Iron Maiden frontman Bruce. But City of Vultures is an arresting listen, no matter whose genes contributed to it. The younger Dickinson definitely earns his way here, proving himself adept at both harsh and clean singing styles. He gets fully engaged support from his bandmates, with Ben Tovey’s bravura lead guitar lines and Pat Lundy’s versatile drumming deserving special praise. Blast beats and scorching fretwork turn “This Day Is Mine,” “The Serpent”, and “Bridges Will Burn” into exercises of barely controlled pandemonium. Dickinson sustains a mood of anguish and aggression throughout, with his demonic performance on “Power Through Fear” hitting an especially ferocious peak. The band tempers its attack with well-forged melodies on “Nothing Left” and “Roads”.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada