October File
Our Souls To You
Candlelight Records
05 April 2010

by Andy Parker

The latest album from October File has been possibly one of the hardest albums I have been passed to review to date. My initial reaction was of an OK album that became pretty monotonous during the first couple of listens – it almost seems as though this is two very different EP’s stuck together.

The first half is somewhat static, and although the tracks pump along and there is a good chug, there is very little to break up the monotony, and in parts the vocal actually began to grate on me. With a title as bold as Our Souls To You, October File should be delivering to the British metal scene an open wound littered with broken bones, sinew shredded tissue and and torn ligaments.

With production duties handled Justin Broadrick ( he of Godflesh fame) who has provided a solid sounding record with usual traits you would expect from his mixing desk. Guitars growl like they’re being formed by a blacksmith having a bad day, the drums are well rounded, but often sound mechanical – nothing out of the ordinary. The second half actually provides some value, But it isn’t until the penultimate track ‘Love is (A Warm AK47)’ and the finale of ‘Our Souls To You (part 2)’ that it really seems to get going.

It can be hard to raise comparisons with anything else, with Ben Hollyer’s vocal lines following quite a distinct format from any sludge band of the last decade. Monotone for the most part – though opening track ‘Crawl’, for example, has an almost Will Haven feel to it – I was often left feeling I’d might have enjoyed the track more if Hollyer hadn’t said anything for a few minutes instead.

Watch October File perform ‘Crawl’ live while supporting Fear Factory last month

In a world of shuffle and 30 second previews, I don’t know how Our Souls To You will fair up. I imagine that if you have seen them live, or are already listening to similar artists, you may pick it up out of curiosity. Otherwise it’s just too much of a struggle to recommend this album too strongly.

3/6

Sounds Like: A train built out of Groundhog Day with nowhere to go but forward.
Top Tracks: Love is (A Warm AK47), Our Souls To You (Parts 1 & 2)

October File – Our Souls To You tracklisting
Crawl
Corporate Evasion
Falter
Dredge
Eau Du War
Our Souls To You (Part 1)
A Public Display Of Anger
Isolation
September
Love is (A Warm AK47)
Our Souls To You (Part 2)