Album Review

CB6 – Succession

• 5th Aug 2013

Succession is the debut album from young Essex hardcore quartet CB6. There is a crown on the band’s logo and a picture of a king features on the cover, but the arrow in his eye makes this one more King Harold than Prince George, despite the somewhat topical title.

Ryan Monteith (Bass and vocals), Joey Drake (drums) Mike Kirkby and Jake Willis (guitars) first came together in 2001 at primary school aged 11, and twelve years or so later they have self released their first full length album. A long service award is perhaps due for staying together all this time … The band’s name, if you were wondering, apparently comes from the six pallbearers who carry a coffin – not sure I get it either

CB6 have a fast and powerful thrash cum hardcore sound, with plenty of big guitar riffs, pounding drums and deep, screamed vocals. The album was recorded in five days at Bucks University with producer Matt Hyde (Slipknot, Machine Head, Gallows). Many of the eleven tracks on the album have a real similarity that makes it difficult to distinguish between them. There is plenty of aggression and some tight chord progressions, but while the overall effect is raw and energetic there is little that will appeal beyond the hardcore genre.

The album packaging is very good, with a full lyrics booklet that bears study. These guys can write great poetic lyrics, although the hardcore throaty roar throughout the album makes it pretty much impossible to make them out most of the time. The second track, Clocks, for example, is based around a poem by Robert H Smith, and has an interesting spoken section, but it is almost inaudible.

The few displays of some variation are the ones that stand out. Illusion has a nice intro with a little more finesse and a great repeating guitar melody. The slightly more melodic Cold Season slows to allow a good bass line to come through, and Penny is a slower instrumental number, although at just over a minute long it offers little relief amongst the harder tracks.

In truth, Succession is a fairly typical and unremarkable hardcore album, fast and furious, full of anger. Fans of the band will probably love it while others who enjoy this type of music may well like it too. But I can’t see it having any great appeal outside that narrow constituency.

Venue: Succession
Support Band: self