Reviews: xCANAANx - Gehenna Made Flesh
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Very Distro and Mailorder (http://www.verydistro.com)
XCanaanX hail from London and play ultra-crunchy straight edge metalcore. Lead by a loud, palm-muted chugga chugga guitar assault, they combine the crunch and heaviness of modern metal with evil vocals, speaking parts, back up choruses, and pissed off, mystical lyrics about vengeance. This comes off like a cross between Caliban, Morning Again, and Earth Crisis.
Michael at Action Attack Helicopter (http://www.actionattackhelicopter.com)
I'll be honest - I don't know much about "brutal, metallic hardcore sXe band[s]." What I can gather about xCANAANx from their music and lyrics is that they"re British, they"re pissed off at Christianity (and possibly Jesus Christ specifically), and that they play some pretty heavy stuff compared to the things that I usually end up listening to and reviewing. Which is fine, if that's the kind of thing they"re into, I guess. Their drummer guy sure does hit the drums hard, and that one singer guy apparently started coughing up blood during recording. Seriously. I think the industry term for the intense music presented on Gehenna Made Flesh is 'sick". You know, the complimentary kind of sick and that's as good a word as any to describe it. But right now this little indie-wimp's eyes are itchy, red, and burning from allergies, it's 4:30 in the morning and I"d honestly rather listen to something more soothing. Metal and hardcore fans might really eat xCANAANx's stuff up, as it sounds pretty tight and there are probably all kinds of good things about it, but to these ears it's just a bunch of noise. 'sick" noise, perhaps, but noise nonetheless.
UK Base (http://www.ukbase.org.uk)
Well this is another variation in direction from Ignition and probably the heaviest so far. xCanaanx have been going for about 2 years and this sees the re-issue of their first CDEP. A self confessed Straight Edge Metalcore band this 5 piece from the London, aren't doing anything new here but what they do is pretty damn incredible, coming from a metal background before I was sworn into the church of punk and hardcore, this really appeals me with it's harsh vocals, great drums and massive riffs, ok it comes out of the schools of Hatebreed, Integrity, Earth Crisis, but this probably has a little more of that hardcore swagger to it. All these tracks are great, though the recording is quite low for something like this and you really have to give it some on the loudness dial to get it to a good ear piecing level. If your into metalcore and haven't got this the first time around hunt it out as shows that the UK can compete on any level with the Americans and the Swedish for the hardcore heavyweight titles.
Dirt Culture #7
XCanaanx seem to be a violent... almost militant SXE group, and that fact gets right on my nerves. I know Earth Crisis were the same way, but I liked most of their material and I wasn't afraid of them anymore after seeing them play live. So despite xCanaanx's holier-than-thou beliefs I have given the music a chance and have been rewarded heftily. Although somewhat simplistic and rhythmic, the sheer heaviness of it all conjures up visions of mighty moshpits and flailing bodies. Fans of Hatebreed and Caliban take note; there are some angry Englishmen who are ready to lead you into the pit and enslave you with an onslaught of heaviness.
Here Be Monsters #26
Fresh sounding straight edge from North London... not too hurried and not too deep... just right with the vox especially suiting the style, not trying to drown or crush the music. The differing speeds help as well... in other words Canaan aren't usual... aren't what's expected by a long shot. Well put together booklet too guys, containing classy illustrations and frank and mature lyrics tearing everything apart. "Gehenna made flesh" is six tracks of strong stuff delivered by a major force to be reckoned with. Not brutal... just awesome!
Inside Knowledge #5 (Martijn Welzen)
Writing a review of this six track CD hasn't been easy. It has to do with the style this band plays. Although done really well, it is a totally Arkangel meets Liar sound with a few Hatebreed tough guy parts. Not original, but still done really cool. Same goes for the lyrics. They touch many important subjects, but the fact remains it has been done by a zillion bands over the last decade. I can't get enough of this sort of music, but if you have heard enough look elsewhere.
Suspect Device #39
This record originally came out on Abstract Communication Records a year or so ago and due to the popularity and demand of this record, Ignition have stepped in and paid out for a repress... cant blame them either as this record is a UKHC classic. I bought this record when Canaan played with Stegal, Dead life portrait and Winter in June at the Portsmouth Horseshoe last summer, and these guys played hard that night, belting out a set of uncompromising straight edge metal with rolled up sleeves, gritted teeth, bloody hands and clenched fists. Fortunately for Canaan they have managed to capture that live intensity that we all witnessed at that show on this record. Six tracks of dark metallic hardcore on offer with a definite Ark Angel influence. One of the heaviest records to come out of the UK in ages and worthy of recognition. Definitely not one for the faint hearted. Fans of Ark Angel, Darkest Hour, stampin ground, UKHC and all things heavy will be, in the words of Ian Wright, Creaming over this record.
Unfit For Consumption #6
Superb quality metal with hardcore attitude from the UK straightedgers recorded by the talented John Hannon who seems to record and produce only the very best ok UK underground acts these days. The riffage is furious and heavier than a sack full of donkey balls. The vocals are tortured and there's blast beats strewn everywhere. Whilst, heavily influenced by the belgian, and no doubt US scenes, its still head and shoulders above anything i"ve heard from either scene in quite some time. Again the UK has come up trumps with another powerful metalcore act. Technical yet moshy, xCanaanx have the right to establish themselves as some force on the strength of this release. Believe me when I tell you this is top notch stuff. Fair fucks to Ignition for this re-release. I for one am very pleased.
Marcel at Silent Stagnation (http://www.silentstagnation.com)
England's new Metal/Hardcore hope with their first EP and with that they can fulfil their role perfectly. Over 19 minutes of finest Metal with less than five percent of Hardcore, the only things that make Canaan a Hardcore-band is their drug-free lifestyle and the mosh riffs. To show you how Metal their sound is you just have to take a look how the guitar players hold their instruments, namely direct under their chin! This was already recognized by a big German mailorder but let's finally come to the music. Canaan really plays finest Metal with all the classic elements of a killer machine. Fast Black Metal riffs combined with the brutality of mosh and some Death Metal influences form Canaan's own sound, of course a lot metal sounding Hardcore bands are around these days but the English guys know to separate their selves with the right combination of these various influences! For example the heavy mosh parts are interrupted by a short fast attack or the shouted and screamed lyrics are suddenly supported by smooth singing or spoken words, but these spoken words are really rare! The layout is very good, the cover shows the band-name marked with X's and a death skull on a bloody red background. The booklet contains the lyrics of the first four songs which where recorded at the same session. The last two songs are re-mastered Demo-songs and were already recorded in May 2000. Every several booklet page got a cool background image! The storm is hailing from England and like the band says 'still Vengeance Stirs My Blood". 4.3 / 6 stars
Jersey Beat (Jason Schreurs)
Who would have thought there were still straight edge bands out there? Sure enough, a strong scene trudges on in Europe and XCanaanX are leading the way with a bludgeoning mix of metal and hardcore. This is not to be confused with metalcore, although it's easy to see how tons of ex-straight edge bands have progressed into the 1000-mph tempo change-core that currently smothers the North American hardcore scene. XCanaanX don't get in above their heads; sure, they use metallic riffs and blast beats a lot, but the songs are simpler and easier to listen to than their evolved brother ...- the metalcore beast. Granted, it is annoying to open up the CD booklet and be blinded with all of those X's around the thank you list names. Otherwise, Gehenna Made Flesh is a six-song welcome treat that brings back fuzzy memories of trying to scrub Jiffy marker off my hands in the shower.
Lucy Raine at Rock UK (http://www.rockuk.ctint.co.uk)
'to the STRAIGHT EDGE we will remain...Loyal To The Gravexxx" is the parting line in the list of thankyous in the CD booklet. From this its quite obvious that xCANAANx are a straight edge band and don't believe in beating around the bush. This is also true of the music which is blatant, heavy as fuck (excuse my French) metal. "Hollow Sky" begins with a frankly disturbing sample of what sounds like people screaming. This then bursts into the incredibly heavy riffage and the vocalist screaming the lyrics like a man possessed. It's all good, up until the spoken part that is. This unfortunately borders on the edge of 80s hair metal cheese, but xCANAANx quickly redeem themselves as "Eighth Day Descent" kicks in. This song truly shows technical skill, if only for the ridiculous speed at which most of it travels. The whole 'sample at the beginning of the track" thing is the first sign of any repetition on this EP as we get another on "Immaculate Amongst Betrayers." Unfortunately, this trend continues with the unrelenting train of double bass drumbeats and brutal guitar riffs. This song also loses some of its intensity at the end with a frankly disappointing fade-out rather than the dramatic ending we hope and expect from this style of music. "Vae Victus" is a change from the previous three songs with an atmospheric and eerie part in the middle where everything slows down and appears like the musical equivalent of a zombie rising from its grave. The growl of lyrics from the vocalist also adds to the frightening intensity of this track, probably the strongest on this recording. The final two songs "Gehenna Made Flesh" and 'sworn Vengeance" are both remastered demo tracks. The intro of the previous song could have come straight from the Slayer back catalogue, and that's no bad thing. From this the music builds up and up until it almost explodes in a fury of guitar, bass, drum and vocals all fighting to outdo the other. The final track is pretty much the same fare as the first three on the CD. As the last track, however, it is effective in ending the EP as the middle gradually gathers momentum until it all collapses at the end into another sample. Overall, the one word that could be used to describe this recording is "brutal." Although repetitive in parts, there is enough variation in the 20 minutes in order to make it a fast and compelling slice of metal. The vocalist is impressive and there is obvious musical skill. I would recommend it to any big fan of very heavy metal. Be warned though, its not for the faint hearted.
Rating: 7/10
