This album was sent to me from the band's vocalist/guitarist, Gabriel, who says in his accompanying letter: "this is not easy listening." I quite agree.

But that's not to say it's not worth listening to. It's just the structures are a bit too complex to get your head around on the first listen, especially if you've just woken up after a night of "beer, women und black metal" as Fenriz might say. But it only takes one or two more listens to begin to understand it properly. "Diatribe" has 9 tracks, and lasts for 43 minutes 6 seconds.

Music-wise, we're talking aggressive yet melancholic metal. Both the music and vocals remind me of several other bands, including Paradise Lost ("Shades Of God" and "Icon" era, mainly due to the sung-yet-growled vocal parts of which there are many,) also Machine Head due to the aggressive parts. The vocals vary quite a bit... usually they're growled/sung as I said, which not only remind me of Nick Holmes but also Kirk Windstein. There's also some speaking, "proper" singing (which doesn't work as well), and even some ghastly industrial-sounding vocals, which remind me of TREND Reznor. (The songs "Unwind" and "Passion Et Resurrection" are the most guilty of this, and the music itself sounds quite similar to Nine Inch Nails as well. Needless to say, they aren't my favourite songs on offer here!).

In fact, Wings experiment with several styles, yet the album still flows quite well, perhaps due to the strong production. There are some quite melodic moments, such as on "Cast Asunder." This song is probably the most instant of the lot, being one of the shortest and also the catchiest ("Hollowman" is mentioned a few times in the lyrics, bringing to mind latter day Entombed for obvious reasons!) There's also a few seconds of the song "Old Langs Eine" or however the FUCK it's spelt, at the end of the song "Unwind." I'm sure Necromantia have done that as well (I never got their latest album, but I heard one song from it. I think it was them anyway). However, my favourite song is possibly "Austere," which includes some nice guitarwork which has a sorrowful feel to it... "Shades Of God" undoubtedly an influence again.

An interesting album, and very professinal sounding I must say. This was a freebie, but even if I'd paid for it I wouldn't have been too disappointed, since it seems to contain lots of different, almost contrasting ingredients... something which baffles the listener yet also compells you to give it another listen. It might be worth your while giving it a listen or two before purchasing it (try listening to the soundclips on the www page, if you're able to, perhaps) since this is not going to satisfy every taste even though it combines several styles. Not the sort of thing you'll want to listen to every day, I must stress. Basically, I applaud it for the times it reminds me of "Shades Of God," and curse it for the times it reminds me of Nine Inch Nails!

Rating: 8 out of 10, but bear in mind that it's quite different to the usual sort of thing I review so don't just take my word for it... it'll depend on your mood and whether you've got the money to spare as to what you'll think of it. If you're strapped for cash and don't want to take a chance, you might want to spend your money on something you know you'll like. But the daring/openminded/curious might like it.

-Ricks-