Lambs TO THE SLAUGHTER REVIEW

'Lambs to the Slaughter' is one of those CD's that you'll find yourself cranking on your car stereo to scare the kids in the neighborhood. It's loud, it's heavy, and it's unapologetic"
- Jourdaine Middleton Metal Music National Examiner., eXaminer.com (USA) (Jun 19, 2009)

While others start bands with hopes of becoming the center of the universe, Australian death metal band Kaamora (cah-mor-rah) was formed for self-enjoyment and was unintentionally tossed into the crowds' attention after selling out every copy of the band's demo. Following this great success, the five-piece group got together in the studio and recorded their debut EP 'Lambs to the Slaughter', which was a DIY effort as they produced it themselves and released it under their own label, RMF records, in May 2009.

The band consists of vocalist Luke Greenwood, lead guitarist Will X, Jase Emgee on guitar and keyboard, Aaron Thomas on bass, and Dylan "Dyl" Jones on drums.

'Lambs to the Slaughter' is a 7-track EP:

1. Into The Storm
2. Tempest Rising
3. Ruptured
4. Educating The Worms
5. Soul Of A Machine
6. Birth Of The Digital God
7. End Of An Aeon

'Lambs to the Slaughter' is one of those CD's that you'll find yourself cranking on your car stereo to scare the kids in the neighborhood. It's loud, it's heavy, and it's unapologetic. It begins with a 58-second intro track called "Into The Storm" that is unsettling, eerie noise that appropriately ties into the ambiance of down-pouring rain. In the end a nightmarish, almost ghostlike scream leads into the second track, "Tempest Rising", and you'll find your head moving to this easy-flowing song without realizing it. It's the type of sound that makes you want to fight somebody, which in turn makes this song a great crowd pleaser for live shows. It combines hard, aggressive guitar riffs with a melody established by the keyboard, and Luke Greenwood's voice going through a scale of low growls, spine-chilling high screams, and somewhat "clean" vocals within the chorus.

Greenwood's abilities as a vocalist are something uncommon amongst many independent metal bands, as in he can actually sing and he doesn't suck. He possesses a very powerful voice that demands your respect (and your soul). With Dylan Jones, his drumming has the quality of any top metal band's, going rabid on his drum kit and yet maintaining time and beat. The guitars can be difficult to distinguish in these songs considering there's so much going on, but Will X makes his presence known in future tracks as he wreaks havoc in "Ruptured" and "Birth Of The Digital God.

Throughout the EP, each musician will leave their impact as very talented individuals. From first impression it might feel like the songs are becoming unoriginal and difficult to distinguish, but all it takes is time to sit down and really listen and you can name each song by heart without looking at the track number and back of the CD case. Kaamora are well on their way to establishing their signature sound to separate themselves from what we've already heard in the metal scene. It's definitely Will X's personal style as a lead guitarist and Jase Emgee's keyboard that makes them stand out the most from other bands.

As these guys continue descending down the right path, not only are they material as an opening band for huge tours and/or metal festivals, but they can even be a likely candidate for big record companies such as Trustkill and Century Media. You might not fully recognize the talent of the band as a whole by first listen to 'Lambs to the Slaughter', but after the second or third time, this band will be stuck to you like an infectious disease. With their raw talent and potential in mind, Kaamora's debut EP earns a 7.5/10.

This EP is available for purchase in stores in Victoria, Australia, but for everyone else you can buy it from their Myspace. Keep your eyes and ears open for these guys, they're making way into the metal scene and they're armed and dangerous.

Favorites: Ruptured, Educating The Worms, Birth Of The Digital God, and bonus track "Joe The Redneck" because it's way too funny to pass up.

Author: Jourdaine Middleton