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The More I See – The Wolves Are Hungry (SPV) review by Chris Davison

Beware of preconceptions. It’s all a little too easy these days to be a trifle jaded and cynical with new releases. I knew two things about this Cd before I put it on: firstly, that it sounded like the band had an unhealthy amount to do with Discharge, and that Gizz Butt (ex prodigy, English Dogs) is guitarist and vocalist with them. These two factors combined to make me fear a creature of such disgusting proportions that I wondered if I was going to have to listen to the aural equivalent of Anne Widdicombe. Luckily, I was wrong: very wrong. The More I see are a five piece hailing from Peterborough, which for those not in the know is the only place even close to civilisation for about a trillion miles, out here in the fens. The band came together back in 2002, and have spent the last couple of years assembling a fine line up, and composing the 12 tracks available on this, their debut CD.

The styling of the music here is that of modern metal. That description, as I am sure you are acutely aware, is a somewhat amorphous and meaningless term. It isn’t modern “metal” in say, the Papa Roach or * shudder * Linkin Park vein, but rather shot through with the stamp of the last two Anthrax releases, along with hints of melodicore/thrashcore outfits such as Cave In and Killswitch Engage.

Opener “Violate” fires forth an impressive beginning salvo, with neat, chunky rhythm guitar being nicely married together with pounding, simple yet effective hardcore-esque drums. Vocally, Butt sounds like a dead ringer for John Bush, giving way to a cleaner, less abrasive style towards the catchy chorus. There isn’t much in the way of brutality here, but then that’s hardly the point. There’s a palpable sense of what was called in the mid 90s “alternative” about the song, and I’m happy to report that it’s an alternative in the sense of say, the more metal moments of bands like Faith No More than Janes Addiction. The hard hitting riffing certainly provides a rather steady back drop to the rest of the song.

Throughout the album, there’s an almost pop-rock air to melodies and hummable, memorable songs. Please not that the use of the word “pop” in that last sentence was not intended at all to convey any negative opinion – it’s just that the way that the song writing seems to have honed the end products to burrow their way into your mind echoes those guilty pop pleasures that many of us will have experienced (but nether the less will deny). Fourth track “Paralysed” is a case in point: all “Stomp 442” verses, Bushisms and all, followed by hideously catchy choruses that will NOT let go of the mind!

Musically, the playing is pretty solid, good dependable guitar playing without ever being too flashy (or ambitious), driving basswork (particularly on “Born Freaks”), hardcore drumming of the mid tempo style, and as previously mentioned the alternately gravel inflected and clean tones of Mr Butt. Song writing is clearly honed, and I would imagine lends itself to somewhat more vicious interpretation in the live setting, perhaps with sing along moments a plenty. Lyrically, the songs go for a pseudo-political bent, being inclined to support rebellion, though never actually hinting at what we are rebelling against. I’m all for opposition, and I suppose the beauty is that you can cut and paste whatever you want to rebel against with the lyrics. I didn’t get a lyric sheet, so I may have this point wrong. If there was a point you were making boys, please get in touch and let me know.

Production is full, fat and typically excellent. The producer is none other than our old friend Andy Sneap, technical wizard, and it has to be said, guitarist on one of my favourite albums ever. (this is, indeed an aside, but Andy, please, write some more shit of your own like History of A Time to Come, please?). The sound is full on and in your face, with plenty of definition to the sharp edge of the guitars, the driving beat of the bass and the thumping of the tubs.

Its not the most metal album you’ll come across all year, but it is for all that a highly enjoyable and recommended opus. Given that we’ll probably have to wait another couple of years for the next fully blown Anthrax studio album, this should quite nicely fill the gap for all the ‘Thrax heads out there, and for the rest of us who want a memorable, hummable slice of metal flavoured pie.