Single Review: Faster Than Death

Their first release since their line-up change and the departure of vocalist Jolene Tempest, Faster Than Death, features the recording debut of new singer Scott Spatcher-Harrison and lead guitarist Josh O’Brien. With these changes, comes a slight change in sound, most noticeably in the vocals, switching from the higher range abrasive style that Tempest was known for, to Spatcher-Harrison naturally low, deep, rolling growls.

What hasn’t changed though, is Bulletbelt’s tight, polished sound. Combining the relentless and consistent high pace intensity of Steve Francis’ drumming, with the powerful, galloping guitars, there is a definite sense of movement and pace. The speed, energy and canter of the track worms its way into your bones with each listen; Faster Than Death is appropriately named and has all the components necessary to encourage ferocity in the pits live.

Bulletbelt has a great balance of dark, gritty vocals and rhythm guitar, with clean lead guitar and drums, and it creates a refreshing and dynamic aural sensation. It makes you want to move, to run, to go faster. And it gets better with every listen.

Accompanying the single is the music video. Directed by Amber Beaton, the video mirrors the track in that it is simultaneously dark, but crisp. Not as hectic and frantic as Cloak The Night, Faster Than Death has high definition, close up shots that illustrate how tight their performance is. A simple performance-based video that merges a collection of performance shots with “story” based shots featuring the new vocalist Spatcher-Harrison. Colour grading in the video has almost reduced the video to black and white, like the colour leaving the body in death. Simple, but poignant.

_{Review written by Alex Moulton}