Label: Nuclear Blast
Release date: March 29, 2019
Production: Mark Lewis
Album length: 40:33
Genre: deathcore/death metal
The American outfit Whitechapel is known as one of the hardest-working bands on the deathcore scene. They came to the fore pretty quickly, showing something innovative and standout with a recipe that leaned not just on deathcore elements but on death metal too. The band has always stood out for a powerful rhythm section, three guitars and deep growling vocals. On the previous record Mark of the Blade, the vocalist also tried out clean vocals, and they stuck around for the current album.
The Valley opens with When a Demon Defiles a Witch, which after a calm, undistorted intro explodes into proper death metal brutality. Blast beats, fast pedals and equally fast guitars are all here. The vocals lean toward growling, but for a breather Phil Bozeman also turns to melodic vocals, which gives the song something truly special. A guitar solo adds the cherry on top. The track turns out to be the most varied thing on the album.
With Forgiveness Is Weakness and Brimstone, Whitechapel carry on with their style, only Brimstone has a bit more groove, at times reminiscent of some brutal nu metal. Hickory Creek shows a different side of the band. A calm and melancholic song sung entirely in melodic vocals, which is pretty surprising for Whitechapel and above all a bold gamble that could anger fans. Still, the whole thing feels natural, not forced.
After that, Whitechapel don’t allow themselves any more such departures from their trademark style. Black Bear, with its groovy feel, confirms it right away, though it isn’t exactly standout. They quickly fix things with We Are One, which packs more aggression and speed. For some balance, and a touch of unpredictability too, Whitechapel throw in another song with melodic vocals, which brings us to Third Depth. The growled chorus adds more atmosphere, and the morbid effect is strong.
Whitechapel close the album with Doom Woods, which is pretty dark and morbid. You can even hear a flirtation with doom/death metal, and although Whitechapel sound modern sonically, here they prove how open-minded they are. The outro especially nails a real feeling of melancholy. The 40 minutes fly by, with no sense of anything dragging. Whitechapel took their time this round, and the result is an above-average record that can also boast well-written songs.
There’s nothing to complain about in the performance itself. Phil Bozeman’s vocals remain brutal, but you also get something gentler out of him. Studio drummer Navene Koperweis (Entheos, ex-Animals as Leaders) did a great job. There’s plenty of dynamics, and he’s just as assured on the faster parts. The guitars are really on point this time too, with Ben Savage standing out, of course, handling the solos and harmonies. The Valley is undoubtedly a record with which Whitechapel prove that deathcore has plenty of room to move if you look at things from slightly outside the box.
8.5/10
Tracklist:
- When A Demon Defiles A Witch
- Forgiveness Is Weakness
- Brimstone
- Hickory Creek
- Black Bear
- We Are One
- The Other Side
- Third Depth
- Lovelace
- Doom Woods
Musicians:
Phil Bozeman – vocals, lyrics
Ben Savage – lead guitar
Alex Wade – guitar
Gabe Crisp – bass
Zach Householder – guitar
Navene Koperweis – drums
