02.Greed
03.My Disease
04.Blind
05.Lead The Way
06.The End
07.Weight
08.Unclean
09.Hayt
10.Inversions
11.The Price Of Dying
Drew Davis (Vocals)
Dany Serrano (Guitar)
Dan Edwards(Guitar)
W.R (Bass)
Nick Schlesinger(Drums)
So it was march 27th 2009 that Mercy House made their debut with Drew on vocals
at the rock attic in streatham, their next gig was at the Underworld in Camden
So right from the start it was a step up every time, they lost a band member and
replaced him then started recordings, did more gigs, got a few good support slots as
well, gigged constantley even out of London shows and released a couple of one track promo cd's.
Well things did keep moving forward they were hailed by Kerrang! Radio’s Alex Baker as a band possessing, “killer riffs, monstrous vocals and more hooks than a slaughterhouse”.
Then they had tracks featured on both Metal Hammer and Classic Rock cover CDs and received regular airplay on the likes of Kerrang! Radio and Total Rock as well as being championed by Recharged Radios DJ Caz on her Metal Mumin show.
They won Kerrang! magazine’s Guitar Hero competition to have one of their tracks featured in the game, which led to a double-page spread feature on the band in the magazine.
Following this, Harmonix and the Rock Band franchise snapped at the chance to add The Mercy House to their roster of artists, which will see their track ‘Greed’ being released as part of the game’s additional content in later this year.
All this came whilst gaining a fierce live reputation on the UK circuit, culminating in Metal Hammer selecting them to support Biohazard at the London Scala.
After battling against health issues that brought the band to the brink of destruction
in 2010 they have now returned determined than ever to prove that real, honest Metal can still be produced by real musicians who are not intrested in image and simply copying someone elses music.
The last few months have seen the band in the studio finishing their debut album, A Broken State of Bliss, which was mixed by Donald Clark (Guns N’ Roses, Korn, Muse) and is now finally out for all to hear.
Time then dear reader for me to hit "Play"........
'A Broken State Of Bliss', now although this is the title track its actually a one minute atmospheric intro.
Kicking into 'Greed' a dark brooding rocker kicks off this album with pure majestic power, it brings to mind Judas Priest's 'Touch Of Evil' with Zeppelinesque qualities, superb production brings out every instrument to perfection.
Drew's vocal delivery is reminicent of Chris Cornell doing an impression of Johnathan Davis, but has those trademark high notes that still makes Drew "THE" rock vocalist in the UK today.
The multi tracking and layering of the vocals and their various styles just adds to a superb piece of work.
The pace remains the same for 'My Disease' but slows down for 'Blind' giving some balance between the bands abilities to rock and also create more melodic and mellow music.
However with 'Lead The Way' that relentless wall of power continues starting off with a bass riff that would fit any decent Korn track, the song has an Audioslave vibe.
Part ballad part rock monster it is a song destined for american rock radio and a subsequent begging letter to come and tour.
Moving very much in ballad territory with 'The End' it has nice "Floaty" guitar sounds, it does of course kick in with more power throughout.
The next 3 songs 'Weight', 'Unclean' and 'Hayt' all return to the powerhouse sound with every element from vocals to guitarwork being in perfect harmony.
And now 'Inversions',im not sure how they have managed to do it but the breathtaking 'Inversions' has now reached a level of superbness that is beyond my ability to describe, in fact one of the lyrics,"you wont find the answers, they are too deep inscribed, deep within the maze that is your mind" just helps to illustrate my fail here on words.
This is version number three that i have in my collection, this one is by far the most acomplished the music is tighter, the little vocal effects added here and there, the cleaness of the guitars to such clarity that each note has its own purity, i mean its just fucking perfect!
There are few modern songs that have those elements of "timeless classic" but this song has it and will be around to entertain future generations, surely the next single??
Finally the near doom laden epic 7 minute masterpiece 'The Price Of Dying', this one comes as a surprise with its multi layered vocals, eerie guitar sounds, odd sound effects, pounding bass, scathing guitarwork punctuated with top heavy powerchords.
Top notch British hard rock currently unrivaled by any other band, you must own this album!
Also go see them live, they are currently supporting Viking Skull on thier uk tour.
Rating 10/10
For fans Of: Audioslave, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Judas Priest, Voodoo Johnson.
