The Welsh metal scene has been responsible for some great bands in the last few years, from international stars Lostprophets and Bullet For My Valentine to underground heroes such as Skindred and the sorely missed, Hondo Maclean, there have been lots of cracking bands appearing left, right and centre, one of them being the mighty 12 Gauge Alliance.

After the three minute experimental drum and bass intro you think your about to get some dire nu-rave album but instead as “Without Arms” kicks in your delivered a slab of meaty riff orientated metal similar to that of Pantera and As I Lay Dying. Fusing furious fretwork with melodic vocals is something done time and time again by bands today, however none pull it off quite as well as 12 Gauge Alliance, imagine if Funeral For A Friend had stuck with the sound they had on “Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation” instead of going all experimental and downhill on us, and your left with a close idea of what 12 Gauge Alliance can actually deliver. 

Following a brief interlude, similar to those on Lostprophets “The Fake Sound Of Progress” album, there is a melodic opening to “Girls Guns & Wildnights“, then suddenly it becomes as heavy as a tonne of bricks and in turn shreds your face off at lightening speed, and mixed into the already chaotic maelstrom are traces of hardcore and a few emotional melodies. “Broken Within” is a real hardcore beat down which contrasted with the passionate “Unspoken Dipravity” makes it seem much heavier. “Take The Blood From The Stone” on the other hand is back into the Pantera groove that was set up in “Without Arms”, and following the style of Welsh heroes Bullet For My Valentine, they mix the melodic with the abrasive and mould it into a constant metallic flow.  

“Breaking Hearts Beating” and “Bury The Lies Of The Dead” round the album off nicely, showing some experimentation and progression in the band’s sound. 12 Gauge Alliance are clearly the next best thing for British Metal, you’ve just not heard them yet. A must if you’re a fan of old Lostprophets, Funeral For A Friend and Bullet For My Valentine.

John Consterdine