The Five Hundred – “Winters” [EP] [Album Review]

Anything that describes itself as “balls-to-the-wall metal” gets my attention straight away, so full marks to Nottingham bludgeoners The Five Hundred for doing that. Formerly known as DAOR, the Nottingham quintet deliver four tracks of gargantuan-sounding, eardrum-wrecking modern metal on their new EP so, if you’re a fan of the melodies of Killswitch Engage, the clinical riffing of Lamb Of God or the shuddering crunch of Heart Of A Coward, this four track EP should put a smile on your face.

Obviously, considering their influences, there is nothing on this EP that hasn’t been done before but very few bands deliver their metallic onslaught with the kind of devastating precision The Five Hundred do on tracks like “Winters” and the crushing “Come Closer”. Stacked out with melodies, hooks, grooves and just plain brutal riffing, The Five Hundred sound is one that manages to effortlessly find that perfect balance between accessibility and arse-ripping heaviness. Well done on setting the bar high with your debut EP guys… now let’s see how you follow this one up!

Track Listing:

01. Winters
02. Come Closer
03. Shutter To The Light
04. The Cannibal Hordes

Run Time: 16:52
Release Date: November 23, 2015

Check out the video for “Come Closer”