Release date: April 6th 2018
The first record of a two-part series, Man Of Stone: First Chapter is the latest release from Scottish post-rock outfit Halo Tora. Having previously enjoyed the band’s last offerings, I had high hopes for this one too – but whilst it is a pretty good listen, it doesn’t quite hit the same heights as some of their previous releases.
There’s no faulting the band’s skills. The instrumentation is fantastic and the vocals are beautifully delivered, but it just feels like it’s missing that special sparkle as a whole. Man Of Stone: First Chapter just feels like a collection of six well-written songs, and whilst it’s a pretty good listen, there’s nothing about it that draws you in or has the ‘wow’ factor.
Despite this, the album is still a good listen. Third track Fractured is especially good; the raw and emotive vocals are absolutely stunning and the fairly simplistic instrumental accompaniment really adds to the atmosphere and mood of the song. Another great inclusion is second track Always The Last To Know, which is a more energetic number with some awesome melodies and catchy riffs to get stuck in your head.
As a whole, Man Of Stone: First Chapter is good, but it doesn’t quite step into ‘great’ territory. It’s still worth your while to check out, as it is a good collection of songs – but hopefully the upcoming second part of the album will see Halo Tora back on their usual top form!
7/10
