Acoda – ‘Yours To Defend’

Last spring British metallers Acoda kicked up a delightful stink in the underground scene with their self titled EP. Now they are back with their debut full length album which is to be released on October 21st 2013 on Best Before Records.

I regularly complain that the current scene in the UK of this genre is saturated with bands of the same genre and I may be true in my beliefs or I may be just be becoming an old fart but despite Acoda being a tight unit this is once again the case. An album from a good band, that consists of talented musicians but due to the hundreds of half arsed bands playing the same genre there is some punch taken away from what should be a great debut.

Acoda do stand out from the crowd by not being all about the break down and seeing how heavy they can be by actually consisting of melodic hooks to counter act their heavy side which is more than refreshing. Acoda are not trying to be anything they’re not and are playing music that even people who aren’t into this genre can take bit and pieces from an appreciate it for what it is rather than pigeon hole the genre in its entirety.

This is in no way a negative review as Acoda bring to the plate ten songs that are filled with variety but I wish more bands playing this style were up to the calibre of Acoda then it would make the job of reviewing bands a more positive one rather than having to trudge through dozens of bands who don’t cut the mustard to then find one like Acoda that do.

If you want something with melodies as well as it’s heavy counterpart then I suggest you purchase their debut album Yours To Defend on October 21st.  8/10
Chris Storey