Reviewed by Mark Hewerdine

Uncompromising in their message and unashamed in their love of heavy rock, Decyfer Down marry snarling, subterranean riffs to passionate vocals on a mission to bring truth to a dark and needy world. 'End Of Grey' is a competent, if slightly monotonous debut - there is a perhaps a little too much grey, both musically and lyrically. Though the band expend a great deal of energy, they often fail to truly engage or move the listener. The melodies often compete for space alongside heavy riffing rather than gelling into a cohesive whole. However, Caleb Oliver's vocals, the band's main strength, do have a knack of cutting through when the choruses come around. "Break Free" is a driving opening statement of intent - an expression of a desperate need for God in the midst of inner turmoil. The solid, if predictable, "Life Again" maintains the energy level, but by third track, "Fight Like This", Decyfer Down are repeating themselves. Patience is rewarded with the rocky, piano-tinged ballad "Burn Back The Sun", the first standout moment and the catchiest thing on offer here. Lyrical cliché can perhaps be forgiven when a band rock this hard and whilst it's hard to fault the band's faith and commitment to God, these songs often fail to register.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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