E.P. Review: Sleepless – Blood Libel
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Whilst two of their members may come from the death metal band Dead Conspiracy, who were active in Portland, Oregon in the late 1980s and who reformed in 2012, there’s a much more varied metal feel to this debut EP. Those two members, Eric Dorsett and Eric Detablan have joined with Kevin Hahn who sings and plays guitar as well as producing this release.
Four tracks, each with an individual feel and style. Elements of thrash, progressive and power metal and even a bizarre keyboard breakdown confront you on first listen of opening song ‘The Man Who Could Not Sleep’. At times, this feels more of a jam room exploration, but a couple of plays make this a much more appealing prospect. I can’t quite identify the influences because this is a band who are very much old school bringing new sounds, so let’s just say Sleepless are creating their own sound.
Thick riffs are supported by a heavy, solid rhythm section and subtle layered keyboards and whilst the construction of ‘Host Desecration’ is at times unorthodox, there is something quite compelling with the erratic and slightly confused time changes. The old school thrash feel of ‘Deluded Hordes’ is slightly more routine whilst the concluding metal stomp of ‘Blood Libel (A Vampire Tale)’ works well.
Whether I’d rush to get hold of further releases by Sleepless remains to be seen. This may well be as far as I’d go but it’s certainly something a bit different.
