Shotgun Cure – Swarm EP (Self-Released)
Thursday, 12th June 2014
Even in my 40’s, I still seek out underground metal talent and clamor to take in new acts when my schedule allows in a live environment. Recently hearing about this Canadian band through their Bandcamp page and learning they were doing a quick East Coast run of dates over the border, I took in a show and the trio floored me with their slightly intricate, progressive brand of speedy crossover thrash. So an immediate purchase of their latest 4-song EP Swarm would be a no-brainer.
Wisely securing the services of Jamie King from Basement Studios in North Carolina (Between the Buried And Me, The Human Abstract) on a production, mixing and mastering level allows the trio to place the focus on songwriting and performances, and these four songs truly embody a blitzkrieg dynamic variety in the progressive thrash realm. Guitarist/vocalist Harut Savchenko has one of those sarcastic, sinister snarls throughout, playful in an Alice Cooper-meets-Dave Mustaine manner on “Cutting Vigor,” while off to the proverbial verbal racetracks on the opening title cut. Bassist James Tulloch fills the airwaves almost in a DD Verdi-meets-Steve Harris manner, allowing a playful cat and mouse chase game to occur often with drummer extraordinaire Kyle Lecourt.
Imagine if Revocation careened headlong into early Megadeth, a dose of the much-missed Realm and then intertwine a little bit of jazzy/Latin fusion tempo action and that will give you a slight idea into Shotgun Cure’s approach. Savchenko has a solid foundation in terms of his guitar riffing and lead breaks (check out the classic rock and shred chops for highlight “Our Altered Remains”) and I’m amazed how much the band go full force in terms of the energy and variety of parts yet always throw in that melodic hook or groove touch to not float too far over the technical rainbow.
Four songs and 18 minutes is not enough for these ears. Expect their next product to come out through label backing, as Shotgun Cure excel at the progressive thrash craft.
