THE BROWNING Geist

SPINEFARM

Kansas electro-metallers find the future running away from them

The Browning’s bandleader Jonny McBee has stated that his end goal ‘is to be industrial-electronic-rockmetal’. With their fourth full-length, he’s gone at least some way to achieving that, but The Browning are nowhere near as innovative as that descriptor would suggest. Instead, Geist mixes deathcore with skittering electronica, trance and hardstyle in a manner that recalls Crossfaith, Escape The Day and (early) Enter Shikari. There are some surprises, such as the happy-hardcore-into-hiphop transition in Carnage, but for the most part, Geist’s ideas are around 10 years old. That said, it’s ably executed, especially on the likes of Everlost, Optophobia and Final Breath but if you’re looking for genuine innovation in the electronic/metal crossover genre, try The Locust, Igorrr or The Algorithm.

FOR FANS OF: Crossfaith, Escape The Day, We Butter The Bread With Butter

REMFRY DEDMAN