18th August 2023

Review: “Where Wild Sorrows Grow” by Upon Stone

Recorded and mixed by Taylor Young (Incendiary, Suicide Silence, Drain) at The Pit Recording Studio, “Where Wild Sorrows Grow” by Upon Stone is the debut EP that ultimately lead to the San Fernando Valley California, Melodic Death Metal act inking a deal in blood with Century Media. It was released in October 2021 ahead of a live debut in January of 2022 supporting Japan’s Kruelty and they have since shared stages with the likes of Unearth and Gatecreeper while citing influences in genre pioneers like At The Gates, In Flames and Dissection all along the way…

Despite the self description as a Melodic Death Metal band, the quartet have Death and Black Metal interwoven into their DNA as the thunderous introduction “Speak, Lower Angels” demonstrates. The drums sound huge against the down tuned low end while the emotive screams at a wrathful God from a vocalist on his knees in the pouring rain make for an enthralling journey into their World. The opportunity for a face melting extended virtuoso solo is turned down in favour of embracing something shorter and more refined, which sounds strange when their overall sound is raw and crunchy rather than technically minded. There are also hints at the possibility of some clean vocals but they’re also pushed away as quickly as they rear their ugly head. “Sky, Sword, and Specter” throws back to 2003 era American Metalcore with some It Dies Today or As I Lay Dying style lead moments as the percussive juggernaut keeps on thundering through. A powerhouse, it offers a lesson in violence to those who sadly know nothing of that time while giving a perfectly weighted piece of nostalgia to those who do. Interlude piece “A Paean” is absolutely stunning, a piece with delicate acoustic guitar meanderings set against piano led orchestration that has an ethereal warmth and lush texture while showcasing some sublime composition. Arguably saving the best to last with the title track, “Where Wild Sorrows Grow” has the face melting solo that we Metal Heads crave set against a soundscape akin to a violently turbulent storm. Why oh why someone made the decision to fade the cut during a second solo which sounds immense, remains a mystery but on this evidence, Century Media have a landed themselves a band who have everything it takes to be huge with their support [7.5/10]

Track Listing