Harlots "Betrayer"

Well, Harlots finally got the recording quality that their music has always deserved, needed and, in large, lacked. So, thanks to the improved aural clarity and balance, Betrayer is much more accessible than the band's previous outings -- something the band's fans will notice (and likely appreciate) right away.

But the improvements don't stop there, as Harlots has really refined their songwriting. Dramatically shifting between grinding dissonant chaos, droning sludge, soft ambiance and rhythmic post-metal, Betrayer has the formula for a choppy, jerky listen. After all, that's usually what happens when metal bands shift gears between extremes. Choppy and jerky this is not, though; there's a certain flow to the record's movements, and pacing is key. Take the first four songs, for instance. "The Weight Unweighable" and "Avada Kedavra" open the album with relatively short blasts of fast, frenetic drumming, twisted guitar riffs and bellowed vocals. "Full Body Contortion" takes that style in a driving, melody-infused direction to set up "Dried Up Goliathan," an eight-minute expanse of atmospheric guitars and distant singing that peaks with pounding, heavy crescendos. Then it's back to the chaos, where the band starts building up to the 12-minute closer, "Suicide Medley."

Betrayer is an accomplished metal record, encompassing a bunch of takes on the genre without feeling disjointed and clunky.

Worth a listen: Harlots - Full Body Contortion

Pick it up from Lifeforce.