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"Somewhere between death emtal and gothic rock, “Forever We Burn” sees Aaron Stainthorpe make infidelities to My Dying Bride for the first time, resulting in an effective but soulless album."
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3/5
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While most musicians like to multiply parallel projects and collaborations, this is not the case for Aaron Stainthorpe, the legendary singer of My Dying Bride, to whom he has never been unfaithful in a career spanning over 30 years. It's therefore surprising to see him headlining High Parasite, a new band formed in 2023 in which he's surrounded by mostly unknown lads, with the exception of bassist Tombs.
But is what is presented as a side-project for Aaron really one? At a time when, between cancelled concerts and internal tensions, the future of his historic home base is uncertain, it's not absurd to think that High Parasite could become his full-time playground. Which would be a shame. Not that the latter is devoid of interest, quite the contrary, but we unquestionably prefer the Englishman's inimitable voice on Victorian doom death to the gothic rock (albeit sometimes rather rough) of “Forever We Burn”, his first sign of life under this new banner.
Teasingly (or not), the band defines its music as death pop (?). However, fans of sweets and pretty melodies are likely to be scared off by the heavy guitars and, above all, by the often (surprisingly) aggressive vocals that the master of ceremonies performs with obvious relish. Of course, there are clear vocals, sing-along choruses and heady grooves to brighten up High Parasite's music with more accessible colors, but rather than pop, we're more reminded of the gothic metal of Paradise Lost or the electro/coldwave from Host.
Which is only logical, since Greg McKintoch's signature is deeply embedded in this first album, which he not only produced but also enriched with guitar and keyboard lines. The proximity to Paradise Lost's most rocking albums (“One Second”, “Host” and “Believe Is Nothing”) is obvious on the unstoppable anthems 'Grave Intentions', 'Wasn't Human' and 'Let It Fail'. However, the extreme vocal range into which the singer plunges all the way, with largesse and a sincere will to fight, is what makes High Parasite so special, and gives it its own identity and raison d'être. At times, even the beginnings of My Dying Bride don't seem so far away, as 'My Syndrome' illustrates.
Knowing the high standards and talent of the main protagonists at work, the proven quality of “Forever We Burn” should come as no surprise. Impeccable production and perfectly-oiled composition ensure that this opus is a well-mannered affair from which nothing protrudes. This relative lack of madness and soul is not enough to dampen the immediate enthusiasm that listening to it triggers, but it does suggest that Aaron Stainthorpe is not yet ready to exist outside of My Dying Bride. Time will tell...
- Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Forever We Burn
02. My Syndrome
 03. Grave Intentions
04. Wasn't Human
05. Concentric Nightmares
06. Hate Springs Eternal
07. Parasite
08. Let It Fail
09. Widowmaker
10. We Break We Die
LINEUP:
Aaron Stainthorpe: Chant
Dan Brown: Batterie
Jonny Hunter: Guitares
Sam Hill: Guitares
Tombs: Basse
Gregor Mackintosh: Guitares / Invité
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.5/5 (2 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH HIGH PARASITE
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OTHER REVIEWS
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