Power of Metal.dk Review

Laugh at the Fakes
Dethrone the Crown
Rating
Style: Melodic Metal
Release date: 14 November, 2014
Playing time: 49:09
 


I can't help it. With most Screamo/Harcore bands haunting the back of my mind, any moniker with more than 3 words makes me cringe. I mean, seriously, what sort of name is ‘Laugh At The Fakes’? Eventually my scepticism changed to surprise when “Dethrone the Crown” turned out to be quite a good album.

Laugh At The Fakes play Melodic Rock with riffs that wouldn’t sound out of place with Death Metal music. It sounds confusing on paper, I know, but the end result works a treat and album opener ‘Not Like Me’ is a perfect example. Also worth mentioning are this song’s lively guitar solos.

Elsewhere in the album...’Fighting Dirty’ sounds like a Poison song played by serious musicians. Glam comparisons vanish, though, when the listener is shaken by a series of powerful riffs and solid blastbeats. ‘Death Awaits’ goes back and forth from Motley Crue-inspired melodies to Anthrax-friendly riffs, tightness and all. ‘Harmonica Playing Man’ is notable for its Prog Rock sensibilities. ‘And I’ leans more on the Melodic side of Metal – for me it’s also the album’s best written song.

With some rare exceptions (‘And I’ being one) I found the use of vocal harmonies in “Dethrone The Crown” excessive and a more powerful lead vocals clear of discernible effects or harmonisations would have improved the album to no end.

By and large, however, this is a valid effort from an undoubtedly promising band.


Tracklist

01. Not Like Me
02. Death Awaits
03. Cut To The Chase
04. Killing Time
05. Fighting Dirty
06. Got No Regrets
07. Harmonica Playing Man
08. And I
09. Dethrone The Crown

Label: Independent
Distribution: Bandcamp
Reviewed by: Chris Galea
Date: 30 November, 2014
Website: www.laughatthefakes.com