Artist: The Gun Show
Album: Discontentment
Genre: Hardcore/Metal
Label: Unsigned

The Gun Show are very into their religion – their myspace states that they formed in 2005 “with the mission of sharing Christ with others.” Vociferous, grunting metal such as theirs isn’t the most obvious way to do this, but their earnestness is almost endearing. The lyrics are peppered with ecclesiastical references, which is probably lovely if you’re into that sort of thing, and even if not the music is more than enough reason to let it sail over your head. As it is, this is a very good album, bold and dynamic, with much to offer for those willing to listen.

“An Overview” is a solid, lush opener – it’s atmospheric and eerie, with sublime female vocals to create an even more bewitching atmosphere. This air doesn’t fade even as the song flips into a heavier, harder opus, with loudly rasping male vocals to completely offset the others. It’s intriguing and compelling and an excellent opener.

“Discontentment,” then, wastes no time in launching into a furious breakdown, with heaving guitar strains set to duelling vocals and undulating percussion. It has extremely heavy intentions, but manages to strike a fine balance between delusions of grandeur and slightly more engaging, straightforward metal refrains. The vocals switch back and forth, harmonies firing loose in the background, creating a powerful and overwhelming piece.

“Negligence” plays about with its tempo, picking up here and there as the clean vocals inject some animation to proceedings, while the grunting is set to slightly more sludgy riffs. It is quite deliciously heavy though, with powerful, resounding beats that reverberate throughout your conscience when it breaks down. The vocal harmonies are exquisite, keeping the song above board and slightly more accessible than if it were a straightforward onslaught of sound.

“The Adegan System” shakes off a turgid beginning to excel, its rhythmic percussion infectious and exhilarating. The chorus, likewise, soars at a breakneck pace and keeps momentum at fever pitch. It’s a lengthy song, clocking in at six and a half minutes, but its endless invention keeps eyes and ears peeled. There’s a menacing bridge in the midsection, followed by a slightly more poignant swell.

“The Girl” is a nice, succinct blast of good old-fashioned throwing down. It’s followed by “Apocryphal,” a melodic, sensual break from proceedings. It revisits the haunting tone of the opening song, taking a clear and ethereal journey through spirituality before feeding back into the tougher stuff.

“Currents” fades out on a delightful, undulating solo, topping off slightly grimmer and brooding riffs. “The Honest Truth” is a rushing, emotional examination of faith – the music completely at odds with the profundity of sentiment on show. When the clean vocals are involved, everything feels urgent, yet strangely intimate – the feel of the song changing entirely as it flits between heavy and light, with the portent of the growling adding a layer of complexity to the song. Such vivid layering of styles and sounds is evident in “Founded Upon The Seas,” which has a few cheesy calls in and around the middle, but manages to be quite able and effective otherwise.

“Authenticity” then finishes matters on a triumphant note, with streaks of brilliant soloing and a twinkling piano facade. The piano ushers in a slightly more delicate air. It provokes a bombast of whirling vocals that peter out gradually, before ending the album in style on a meditative and serene refrain. It’s a graceful afterthought to a mixed album, and a fitting illustration of how much style the record offers on top of its substance.

In summary, this is a beautifully realised album, arching and powerful. It mixes light and dark tremendously well, taking no prisoners in its heavier moments yet remembering to add grace and elegance to its songs too. It may not take your breath away at first, but repeated listens will unfurl its charms, and it ought to leave you very contented indeed.

Score: 8/10
Review written by: Grace Duffy

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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