Although Stormcorporation only formed just over a year ago, in the summer of 2009, they’ve quickly become a big part of the local music scene. Last month saw the free online-release of their debut album, The Pillars of The Earth, and in the spirit of all things metal, Rock On Promotions decided it was only right to make it the subject of our debut review.

The title track opens the album with a riff so memorable I can say without a shred of doubt that I’ve heard it before. Within seconds I remembered it from seeing them play live a good six months ago. The guitars are downright addictive, and that’s certainly not all this song has to offer. The Strength Within follows, introducing a darker sound to the album, especially with an eerie ending that builds anticipation almost to breaking point.  Together, the first two tracks work well to give a taste of what’s to come. The third is where things really get interesting.

The band has described Dreamless as their ‘unicorn’ because it was so hard to write. It was definitely worth the effort, because the end result is one of the strongest songs on the album. The verses are made up of complicated harmonies, but somehow everything fits perfectly, and when the chorus kicks in, G’s voice will send shivers down your spine. It’s hard to talk about Stormcorporation without talking about G’s voice, but really I don’t even need to. It speaks for itself.

Those who have heard Stormcorporation’s original EP will know how stunning the production quality was, and this album is no different. At first glance then, it’s hard to tell what’s changed on the four songs that made the leap from EP to album, but when you look a little closer there are subtle differences. Adding a few cymbals to the start of Meccatronix has certainly made a world of difference to what used to be a slightly awkward opening. I’m sure a few other rough edges have been smoothed out here and there, but I won’t ruin the fun of spotting them yourself.

It’s all too easy for bands to throw a dozen good songs at a CD and call it an album, but although structure is so often overlooked, Stormcorporation seem to have put a lot of thought into The Pillars of The Earth. Like all great albums, the second half puts the first to shame. At just over eight minutes, In Spite Of It All is by far the longest song of the album. What’s impressive is that you wouldn’t notice until you look down the track list. There’s something haunting about the chorus, resulting in a song that not only holds your attention, but leaves you wanting more.

Stand Up And Be Counted is another highlight of the album, seamlessly combining everything Stormcorporation do best into one hell of a song.

Fans of the EP will notice that one track didn’t make the cut for the album, and although it’s always a shame to see a good song go, Never Far more than makes up for it. If G’s voice wasn’t already impressive, the fact that she holds her own without the usual backup of thrashing guitars and pounding drums really says it all. If anything, it would be nice to hear the band take a step back for a full song. The first half of Never Far is so beautiful that when the guitars do burst onto the scene you almost wish they hadn’t. Still, you soon get over it. The sheer power of it all is just overwhelming, making Never Far the kind of song that gets better and better with each listen.

Finally, with spectacular drumming, thundering guitar riffs and simply unforgettable vocals, A Quiet Belief In Angels provides a great end to a great album.

- Roz Edwards