Auger – Insurgence (Album – darkTunes Music Group)
Genre/Influences: Metal-pop, indie-pop/rock.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: The British duo Kyle J. Wilson (singer, producer) – Kieran Thornton (guitar) strikes back with their third full length to date. “Insurgence” features fourteen songs featuring an intro plus two so-called ‘interludes’.
Content: I experienced the band’s previous album “From Now On I” as a mix between gothic- and metal music. The metal riffs are still running through this new opus, but the gothic style feels a bit like being replaced by a catchier and ‘pop’-driven approach. Most of the songs remain pretty powerful, the menacing guitar playing boosting the global production, but most of the choruses have something catchy and melodic. There also is a song featuring female backings while the final track has something pretty Rammstein-minded.
+ + + : I experienced this new album as more original than its predecessor. Don’t get me wrong, Auger is not composing pop music, but the metal power has been a little bit polished and refined by catchy arrangements and melodic leads. The last song “We Are Auger!” is there to remind us this band isn’t making ‘music for sissies’! The guitar playing has something elevating, which together with some of the choruses creates an apotheosis. The charismatic vocals of Kyle J. Wilson are perfectly matching with the global power of the production.
– – – : The short intermezzos bring some seconds of rest, but aren’t exactly necessary nor efficient. Some songs from the second part of the work are a little bit soft, but the last song makes it all good.
Conclusion: Auger moves on exploring different ways to mix metal influences together with other styles.
Best songs: “We Are Auger!”, “Tell Me Wrong feat. Imogen Evans”, “Who Can Help Me Now”, “November Engel”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.auger.band / www.facebook.com/AugerUK
Label: www.darktunes.com / www.facebook.com/darkTunesMusic
About Auger
Auger is a dark rock duo from Blackpool, England, led by Kyle J. Wilson alongside guitarist Kieran Thornton, fusing electronics with guitars since 2017. The project’s discography runs from the debut “The Awakening” (2017) through “From Now On I” (2019) and “Insurgence” (2020) to “Nighthawks” (2022), alongside singles released via The Big Chair including “My Heart Is Glass” (2022) and “Before It Began” (2023).
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
