Hand Of Mercy are a band that work incredibly hard for their dreams. Before being signed they saved their own money and headed over to Boston to record Last Lights. With the anticipation of this release, plus the killer live show they provide, it’s no wonder why metal label Unified snapped them up.
In saying this, the record doesn’t begin on a strong note. ‘Dexter’ is average at best – the opening scream of ‘murder’ seems clichéd and the rest of the track is made entirely up of breakdowns.
It is nothing that hasn’t been done before and makes you concerned to whether Hands OF Maercy have actually progressed on from previous releases.
As you listen to the album, your worries are soon washed away as the rest of the tracks provide more versatility. The melodies on songs like ‘Absence Makes Your Heart Go Wander’ provide an album worth listening too, with many numbers featuring great chants that will be perfect in a live show.
‘Quarter Deck’ begins with an amazing instrumental intro showing how talented Hands Of Mercy really are. The unexpected elements which have been thrown in throughout the album are what make it a great listen.
Lyrically this album is amazing. As blunt as they are, the words flow incredibly well, appearing to tell a story. You can tell that Hands Of Mercy gave it their all when it came to penning thoughtful lyrics.
Although the second last song ‘Interlude’ seems misplaced, it does provide a build up for the final song ‘Last Lights’ which shows the most progression for the metal band.
Unlike many other albums of this genre, it is hard to know what to expect, keeping you on the edge of your seat for the entire 33 mins.
