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Intense: Songs Of A Broken Future
Intense - Songs Of A Broken Future Art Work

Intense: Songs Of A Broken Future

Heavy Power Metal
4.5/5.0

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Pure Steel Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 01.04.2020 | Released: 27.03.2020

Returning from the "where have they been" cave is UK metallers, Intense. Founded by vocalist Sean Hetherington and guitarist Nick Palmer in 1991, the last we heard from the band was 2011's The Shape Of Rage. Despite a nine year absence, Intense has maintained the same lineup from 2004. That, in itself, is more than a little remarkable. Now, the quintet drops their long-awaited fourth album, Songs Of A Broken Future for Pure Steel Records.

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Intense

There's really no mistaking the Intense metal sound. The band plays twin-guitar driven, New Wave of British Heavy Metal inspired, power metal. Excepting the intro, from the gate, every song is essentially fast and heavy. In a word, intense. But that's not to say, Intense is modern metal harsh. Never. First, you'll find, not acidic and harsh, but spry and harmonious twin guitar lines. Naturally, these turn into generous guitar solos. For his part, Hetherington adds his clean singing to the song melody and harmony. Underneath the rhythm section pairs the twin commodities of rock groove and power metal gallop, definitely more heavy on the latter.

You'll hear all these things in the fine arrangements of End Of Days, The Social Elite, or The Tragedy Of Life, which pretty much gallops from the start. Other times, the guitar lines offer a strong start, as with Head Above Water, The Jesters Smile, and Stand of Fall, to get the pedal to the heavy power metal. Don't be tripped up by a song that offer a softer start. The title cut offers piano and voice to begin, but eventually delivers ambitious power metal. Alternatively, the odd man out, Until The Memories Fade delivers a power metal anthem. Beginning with voice coupled with acoustic and electric guitar, it eventually rises to soar and finish with an epic guitar solo.

Wrapping up, Intense's Songs Of A Broken Future is a welcome and fine return for the English metal band. Prepare for some epic, fast and heavy, twin guitar driven power metal. Easily recommended.



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The Bottom Line

Intense's Songs Of A Broken Future is a welcome and fine return for the band. Prepare for some epic, fast and heavy, twin guitar driven power metal. Recommended.

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