Neshiima: Beware Of Gifts

Artist: Neshiima
Title: Beware Of Gifts
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 28th August 2015
Reviewed By: Homer Kelly

So here we have a bit of a strange one: Neshiima, a Scottish "tech-groove" metal band have come out with eight song epic concept EP Beware of Gifts, based on the Japanese legend of Urashima Taro. Get comfortable: this is an ancient myth of a young fisherman who saves a turtle and as a reward is taken to the castle of the dragon emperor deep in the ocean. After staying for three days he leaves and is given a box by the dragon's daughter (with whom he has fallen in love) with a warning to never open it. In a Futurama meets Dorian Gray twist he finds 300 years have gone by and his name is just a tale of someone who disappeared long ago. In despair he opens the box which expels a cloud of white smoke that ages him 300 years and he hears the voice of the princess calling out "I told you not to open the box, in it was your old age…"

Pretty heavy yet whimsical shit!

Neshiima are notable new members of the new wave of progressive/groove metal with a rap kicker that's been coming out of Britain in recent years in bands like Hacktivist, Monuments and Ephemeral that combines melodic choruses, sweeping grand soundscapes, dissonant heavy riffage and filthy, filthy breakdowns. These guys have a nice take on this new sound with this, their second EP really blending the rapping and singing sides of the genre, which to my knowledge many of the larger bands stick to one side of; and managing to sound both familiar and yet fresh and dynamic, with the extra conceptual twist thrown in.

Now let it be known that I am not the most knowledgeable when it comes to the metal, but in its own context I find this a very strong mini album. With an under-twenty-five-minute runtime you don't get bored listening through the whole EP, providing time to experience every song and let their general sound grown on you. Like I said I'm not much of a metal guy but some of their songs have made the jump to the starred list when normally I'd listen to one song of this and go "narp, not for me."

My high point of the EP, final track Play Your Part, is typically the song that most abandons the poly-rhythmic riffing and settles for good old punk rock drum beat. After this though the song launches in to another beefy metal riff backed up by a solidly powerful drum beat and screaming vocals that accompanies their customary epic chorus really well and shows a great ability to adapt their songwriting. 

Another stand out track is the second on the EP, Those Who Suffer. It's a great example of everything the band can do, the melodic choruses reminiscent of Killswitch Engage, the rapping, the heavy riffing, the screaming breakdowns and their techno influences shining through in the production, especially notable in the breakdown at 2:35.

With all that said, some songs here do fail to really register: yes, you don't get bored but there is a feeling of just being awash in different variations of the staccato riffage and contrasting melodic choruses, with some songs reaching repetitive. Taken By The Tide, a quiet balladesque song, breaks things up, and is refreshing and equally pleasing as the EP's high points, but once again doesn't really stick in your head. Overall though, as someone who only really listened to metal back in 2005 and Avenged Sevenfold's City of Evil this was a decent foray back into that world for me! These guys have produced a solid EP and to my view have easily matched their more experienced counterparts. Good job guys!