Purgatory Line
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
The debut album from this midwest outfit, Purgatory Line, i.e. Dave McAnally and Matt Kettman, are well versed in hard hitting sounds, and the lyrical themes of universal struggles aligns superbly with the well thought out instrumentation.
“Welcome To The Show” starts the listen with an abrasive yet very tuneful version of hard rock where swirling guitars and pounding drums are met with ominous singing, and “Yield” continues the intensity with a fierce thumping alongside some firm grunge nods.
At the halfway point, “The Bottom” enters initially calmer territory before bursting into metallic chugging amid layered vocals, while “Rock ‘n Roll Ain’t Free” recruits acoustic guitar for some diversity, as thicker layers of busy alt-rock come and go in the anthemic climate.
The final two tracks retain the strong songwriting of the entire album, where “All The Way In The Dark” stays gentle with warm acoustic guitar and a playful singer-songwriter feel, and “Realize In The End” finishes with a loud, rumbling display of power and melody meeting at a throbbing but tuneful intersection.
McAnally and Kettman were both players in the late ‘90s Iowa metal scene, and came together during the pandemic to work on these tunes in isolation. Certainly indebted to the ‘90s, Purgatory Line would fit in well with the sounds of Seattle in the early ‘90s, classic metal from the late ‘80s and even modern day alt-rock, as the pair bring a wealth of talent and experience to a bristling, memorable first record.
Travels well with: Rezet- Deal With It: Final Breath- Of Death And Sin