ISLANDER - Power Under Control

July 26, 2016, 7 years ago

(Victory)

Kelley Simms

Rating: 8.0

review heavy metal islander

ISLANDER - Power Under Control

Expect big things from South Carolina-based alt metal band Islander. With Power Under Control, the band’s sophomore release, the foursome has made a diverse and modern record that should appeal to a variety of music fans. Love & Death guitarist J.R. Bareis, former Avenged Sevenfold drummer Arin Ilejay and ex-Forever At Last bassist Zeke Vasquez are joined by mainstay vocalist Mikey Carvajal. Carvajal conjures up similarities to modern icons such as Chino Moreno, Jonathan Davis and Chad Gray with his varied vocal delivery. Borrowing elements of the Deftones, POD and Korn, to name a few, the band’s use of alt and rap metal, post punk, nü metal and hip-hop elements are the perfect mixture for angsty, Vans Warped Tour kids and their ilk. 

Opener “Darkness,” with its varied blend of genre styles and ugly sounds keeps the song flowing, while “Bad Guy” and “Beelzebub” introduces haunting and hypnotic textures. “Think It Over” is a blast of raucous pop-punk meets funk metal catchiness with guest vocals by Bad Brains vocalist H.R. The infectious chorus of “Better Day” stays with you long after the track ends, while the ’90s alt rock influences of closer “Wait For It” ends on a high note. Power Under Control is a powerful listen from start to finish, making the repeat factor mighty high.



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