While She Sleeps - This Is The Six

The British metal scene has been getting excited about this Sheffield five-piece for a while now, and with a lot of expectation riding on their young shoulders, While She Sleeps have delivered an outstanding new record.

Their first full-length album, ‘This Is The Six’ is powerful, gutsy and dynamic from start to finish. Opening track ‘Dead Behind The Eyes’ sets expectations sky-high, showcasing a clear post-hardcore influence and stomping riffs.

Teetering on the border between metal and hardcore, Lawrence Taylor’s commanding vocals steer the record faultlessly into ‘False Freedom’ and ‘Satisfied In Suffering’. Spots of gang vocals give these songs a character that is confident and in no way contrived. ‘Our Courage, Our Cancer’ proceeds to introduce a tricky piano key change that, while often proving fatal for bands of this ilk, feels fitting at this halfway mark.

‘Be(lie)Ve’ and ‘The Plague Of A New Age’ deliver a second helping of ferocity with an undeterred aggression. It’s usually at this point where many metalcore bands run out of steam but this quintet stand tall and continue on an unforgiving, angst-filled path.

An impeccable live reputation and impressive debut offering (‘The North Stands For Nothing’) have seen While She Sleeps lay solid foundations for impeding success. With ‘This Is The Six’ now secured under their belt, expect to see them reaping the rewards they’ve been so heavily hyped for.