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DENDERA
Pillars Of Creation

Metalbox Recordings (2015)
Rating: 5.5/10

There’s been quite a buzz surrounding Portsmouth-based UK metal act Dendera since the release of their 2011 EP We Must Fight, which was followed in 2013 by the debut full-length The Killing Floor.

However, I’m still on the fence as to whether these guys have the ability to be the next British metal sensation. This is mostly down to the fact that there are times on this second album, Pillars Of Creation, when the band just doesn’t rock hard enough; and yet when they do, their shine is far greater.

There is of course the other issue that what Dendera are doing is rather formulaic; an occasionally molten mix of traditional metal and speedier passages boasting some half-decent melodies and catchy hooks, but just not enough edge to drag the sound away from mediocrity. I’m very much unfazed by the vocal delivery as well; Ashley Edison’s style being a rather basic and, dare I say it, quintessentially British trad’ metal charge, not quite capable of leading the cavalry of what turns out to be a slightly better than average record into battle.

I’m always reading about so many UK bands which are said to show so much potential, and yet rarely do such acts fulfil such promise. I want bands to explode onto the scene because at times a gradual rise will mean that by the time a second, third or fourth album emerges it could well be too late.

And so with Pillars Of Creation we find plenty of energy, a few twists and turns and subtle manoeuvres, but nothing really biting hard to suggest that Dendera can be the heirs to the throne. At times the band seems a tad strained, almost hesitant to crank up the volume, and so we’re treated to heaviness in patches – mainly with the excellent ‘Bloodlust’ and the sturdy ‘Unholy’, both of which seem to reflect their titles musically.

Having said that, they are still straight up, albeit ballsy metal numbers, but they do rock hard, whereas the likes of ‘Disillusioned’ and ‘In High Tide’ seem to act as nothing more than filler; although the latter does have its moments, particularly in the riffs and melody, it’s far from being mind-blowing metal.

The subtleties of Dendera are expressed via ‘The Chosen One’ with its nice mid-section, but it’s with album closer ‘Edge Of Tomorrow’ that the combo saves the best for last; finally realising that there’s more quality in the locker – just a shame it’s been left until the end. It’s a track of variation, where Ashley Edison comes into his own, and the track supplies weight in abundance, but it feels more like a case of too little too late; Dendera hinting at Iron Maiden with a glossier tint, and at times flecking their sound with thrashier nuances.

There’s no denying the cohesion of the unit, and in a track such as ‘The Daylight Ending’ there is proof that the outfit can churn out songs which will be remembered in years to come. The big question, however, is when will this this band finally realise its potential? I hear patches in this sophomore effort to suggest a progression from the debut – of that there’s no question – but for me it’s not an album with enough grip on my balls to make me stand up and notice.

I’m pretty sure that with a few more gigs and experience under their belt that Dendera will soon become a recognisable name in the British metal industry, but I hear little on this opus to suggest anything more.

Neil Arnold

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