Album Review: Psalms by Lorna Shore

Date: June 19, 2015

By Rohit

There are not too many fads in metal, but deathcore is definitely one of them. Bands that were selling out venues like Starland and the Irving Plaza can now barely sell enough tickets to play a small bar. And can you really blame the fans? Most bands fall into the same trap of boring instrumental work, laughable lyrics and the same breakdown every minute. That's why when bands break that formula, it is a huge breath of fresh air, and Lorna Shore absolutely tore it apart on their 2015 release 'Psalms'.

Hailing from New Jersey, Lorna Shore is not just your run of the mill deathcore band. Their guitar work is technical, vocalist, Tom Barber, switches from almost black metal-like screeches to death metal with ease, and their breakdowns are some of the most disgusting (in a great way), off-time and unique ones that I have heard in the genre. I almost don't want to call this a deathcore album because other than the breakdowns in sounds like a techdeath album, which has not been true for a deathcore band in a while.

Produced by Will Putney (guitarist for another impressively technical deathcore band from New Jersey, Fit For An Autopsy, and a record producer for the Machine Shop in Jersey) you knew that production would be perfect on this album and it absolutely is.

Although I've had nothing but positives comments so far, there were some downfalls of this album. Breakdowns are like strikeouts, they can be momentum killers and there were a couple songs in which the breakdown felt a little forced and lasted for way too long. Other than that, this album and this band is a much needed kick in the butt for the whole genre. The lyrics actually mean something, there was actual songwriting and the vocals are downright impressive.

If you haven't already, check out 'Psalms' by Lorna Shore, available as of June 9^th on Destiny Records.

Rating: 4.5/5

If you're looking for more Lorna Shore related content, Rohit interviewed the band earlier this year!

Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are the opinions of the writers alone, and they do not reflect the opinions of WSOU, Seton Hall University, nor any of its affliates.

Posted in: Album Review, Metal, WSOU Exclusive