Album Review: Offensive - Inhabitants of Purgatory
Reviewed by Carl Black
Have you ever bought an album that totally describes the content inside? Death? Vio-lance? Goatwhore? Offensive do not do what it says on the tin. They are not in the least bit offensive, in fact they are borderline pleasant. One fears one is trying too hard to be something they are not.
Offensive are the brain child of Leon A. Sohail; Guitarist, singer and visionary of the band. They formed in Maryland USA in the summer of 2016 and have gigged steadily, but not extensively, for the last forty months. Sohail has been running around and picking everything and anything off the influence shelf in a supermarket sweep that would have Dale Winton crying his eyes out. “I’ll have a bit of this and bit of this and a bit of this”. We find thrash metal, old metal, punk, rock n' roll; you name it, it’s right here. Like a disjointed play list put together by a bored teenager on a free study period.
The quality of the music left me little underwhelmed. It’s got plenty of potential and its played well. But they should take the time to mature and develop. For the amount of time that they have been together I'd expect them to be right here were they are musically on this album. There are a couple of moments on the record where the drums fall out of time with the rest of the band, especially when the tempo changes or there is a change in riffs. The vocals feel to me a bit out of place. Like a flat Phil Rind but not quite as good.
It’s a debut album from a band who has yet to find their place in the world. There are mistakes on this album… true, but no major disasters either. Play more gigs and write more songs. Before long this album will slip by and Offensive‘s focus will be elsewhere.
Offensive's 'Inhabitants of Purgatory' is available now on all good streaming services.
