Spouting frenetic, warhammer rhythms, Guildofiends are a quartet of headbangers intent on upholding Brisbane’s dominance in the wider Australian heavy metal scene. Six Sick Songs (a tongue-in-cheek play on metal’s unholy number) is their first EP and, suffice to say, there’s enough metal here to keep a wrecking yard worker happy. Galloping, 140 bpm-plus drums, tight syncopated riffs, explosive breaks, squealing pinched harmonics – GOF have got ‘em all sorted along with amplified energy; what they don’t yet have is a signature element distinguishing them from legions of fellow decibel-pumpers. Whether they manage to attain it only time will tell, but what they have on offer is promising enough to keep an uninitiated metalhead intrigued. As far as the songs go, breakneck-paced Cataclysm is both appropriately titled and performed and Bethrone Kingdom Earth channels vintage Manowar pomp. Vocalist Shaun Greensill, while possessing formidable pipes, at times doesn’t appear to know whether he wants to make Dani Filth-like screaming, death growl or melodic singing his preferred mode; on Lust In Want, he shifts between several different patterns, but his morphing skill and his bandmates’ instrumental proficiency hint at the notion that with the right amount of polishing, Guildofiends could arrive at a trademark sound.

DENIS SEMCHENKO

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