The Final Demand

Asperity - The Final Demand

This album is probably not very well known but if your a fan of good hard power metal its definitely worth trying to find, asperity are a good heavy power metal band with awesome riffs, a fair bit of originality, and amazing vocals. the lyrics even have some originality in that theyre not just another band singing about dragons and slaying and epic wars, though some bands do manage to pull that style off well, asperity do quite well in the original lyrics and music.

The first track, will they come, we see the heavy riffs and original lyrics from straight away, the song is about insomnia, with a good heavy riff starting the song and album off, and straight into an awesome solo before some awesome vocal work starts with a heavy riff backing them up. you can hear the 2 guitars playing around each other very well to pull off an awesome sound. then the chorus starts, its a very catchy chorus with more awesome vocal work and some sweet guitar to finish it off. then a very atmospheric second verse and chorus and into a powerful guitar solo, into an awesome vocal interlude, then a short keyboard solo and back into an awesome chorus to close the song

The second track, pleasure and pain, continues the heavy guitar at the beginning of the song and keeps to a similar pattern as the first track with some heavier vocals near the start, and some similar guitar work to the first track.

The third track, the pray, is excellent, a song about questioning the christian god and why he allows the world to feel pain etc. this song has more excellent vocal work and guitar work, a slower song to the first two tracks making a contradiction in the album, this song works extremely well though and turned out fucking brilliantly. The song is very vocally based with the vocals much overpowing the guitar here, but the vocals being brilliant this doesnt matter and theres always the very awesome guitar solo with some very heavy drums going on behind it. the contradicting vocals at the end of the song get the listener ready for the next song anf finish off this song brilliantly.

The fourth track, soul collector, starts with a kick ass very short drum solo and straight into a heavy guitar riff not unlike previous ones heard on this album, then it slows down as the vocals kick in softly and slowly then everything gets louder again with a heavier vocal and guitar riff, throughout the drums are very solid here and deliver a gut busting performance. the vocals during the chorus are great too, then back into the softer bit before loud again. then chorus and awesome guitar solo. the songs lyrics are about being a strong person against any challenge.

The fifth track, never understand, is one of my favourites, starting once again with a not-so heavy guitar riff that is still kick-ass. the song follows the starting riff into there more generic riff for verses while the vocals wonder what will happen after-life, while they continue this into the chorus a guitar solo breaks out behind them, and then the chorus continues to never understand about life today. the drums and guitar really work together to pull off a slow yet heavy sound to compliment the questioning nature of the song. then an interlude with yet again an awesome guitar solo. and more loud wondering about where we'll be at the end.

The sixth track, final demand, being the tital track really delivers and truly deserves the priviledge of the title track, the vocals on this song start practically straight away with an awesome scream and straight into" i cant remember what i did last night..." makes you wonder whats coming next an awesome guitar riff backing up some awesome vocal work here, some of the best on the album, a song about making choices and consequences and understanding these. the guitar riff in this song is more original then on previous tracks and really delivers. the guitar solo on this song is a very solid and awesome sounding one... just like all the others so far on this album, but that doesnt matter cos the vocals really allow apserity to go places.

The seventh track, the man with 1000 faces, continues in the same vein as the other songs, awesome starting riff, with awesome starting vocals that remain solid throughout the song, the drums in this song though really do quite well and make the chorus just sound fucking superb, the vocals in which are brilliant as usual. the song being a bit more fantasy based, though with the amazing vocals and drums in the chorus, who cares, fucking brilliant song with an awesome keyboard solo after the second chorus with vocals over top of this solo, followed by another awesome guitar solo that really compliments the vocals well.

The eighth track, past life, is just a solid conitnuation of songs like soul collector and pleasure and pain. though with a uniquely different starting riff and guitar work that is pulled off really well but then leads into the same style as previous songs with a bit more keyboard work. vocals still strong though in this song.

The nineth track, Rebellion, is an amazing song about exactly what the title says, a slower beginning riff yet once again its all good, with great vocal work and keyboards, the chorus delivers a very inspiring message about freedom, with some solid guitar riffs and the vocals leading into the chorus really build up to the awesome chorus screaming with some very solid riffs under the lead up and chorus, with solid keyboard all the way.

The tenth and final track, Sad eyes, really pulls the album to a close well, with some awesome riffage and drums at the intro aswell as a soft keyboard underlying it which makes for an awesome sounding intro then the vocals come in with a simple message about a woman whos being missed dearly, the vocals in this really allow you to connect with the singers feelings at this point, the guitar work follows brilliantly, all the stops are pulled out in this song and it makes a great closing song about grief and shit, something weve all dealt with, and contemplating suicide etc.

If theres anything wrong with this album, its the repetitive-ness of the songs in there structure... verse chorus verse chorus solo chorus sort of style. and the drum work is just generic and repetitive. all in all a fucking great album though with some awesome vocal work, guitar solos and riffs.

Opie Jay - 2006