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A quick warning – if you’re getting disillusioned by the amount of stale metal bands around at the moment, ones that won’t challenge you or push the envelope even an inch, don’t listen to Dublin’s Chosen.

That’s not to say Chosen are a bad band or that ‘Fragment (piece II)’ is a particularly bad demo, but the ideas they employ here have a tried-and-tested feel that just can’t be shaken.

It is a diluted sound, not helped by muffled production that means you have to strain yourself to hear individual instruments, and the song structures – especially in songs like ‘Crooked Path’ – leave little to the imagination, reminding you of bands as bland as Panic Cell and Soil. There are also regurgitated elements of Crowbar, Pantera and Soilwork here.

There are moments of promise, though. ‘A Thousand Pains’ is a smack in the face in the vein of ‘Kill ‘Em All’/’Ride The Lightning’ era Metallica, whilst ‘The Nemesis’ is littered with promising riffs.

However, a lack of evident passion (particularly in the unconvincing, almost whiny vocals of Carl King) is the one thing that will stick in your mind by the time you have heard the last notes of closing track ‘Darkness Of A Smile’.

Chosen would be advised to pick up the pieces of ‘Fragment (piece II)’ and start afresh.

:twisted :twisted 1/2 out of 5

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