What is Promethium? Named after Prometheus of Greek mythology who stole fire from the Gods and gave it to humans, it is a radioactive metal and was first produced artificially in a nuclear reactor! Perfect name for a band, right?
The Lancaster based band originated back in 2007 and have recently released their fifth album titled Bleeding the Ghost which not only points the band in a new direction but also features a new lineup too.
Like any good intro, GOAT straps you into your seat and whets the appetite for what the rest of the album will deliver. There are evidently some nods towards the good ol’ Big 4 which is no bad thing at all, if anything it gives the axe-wielders Daniel Lovett-Horn and Andy Haworth the ability to dual a bit and show what they do best.
No messing around here with the title track which slides straight in after the intro. Incredibly punchy and an instantly likeable track. What I have always liked about PROMETHIUM is the reflective approach towards mental health and military themes and this song is no different. It just shows that this new line-up fully embraces the foundations of everything the band have done to date and can build a successful campaign on the back of it “If you stand by us, among no foes, Abandon the others, Bleeding the ghost!”
Priest is unquestionably my favourite on the album. It seems like a true homage to classic NWOBHM and to those bands that helped fly the flag back then. It is an incredibly powerful track and conjures strong imagery within one’s mindset. Lyrically it could quite easily border in the realms of power metal “Lonely girl was talking to a broken Ouija board, and you’ve awoken something ancient from the tomb” This track certainly allows new vocalist James Candlin the opportunity to showcase his range. This song is so infectious I might well need to call out the Priest for myself!
Angela Lansbury eat your heart out! Seriously though, Murder She Wrote is a quality track from start to finish. The verses are well structured around the lyrical rhyming couplets and totally plays on the theory that Jessica Fletcher was indeed responsible for all those murders. There is some great riffs showcased here that will have you banging your head from the offset.
Healing Your Sin has a complimentary build up of both guitars and percussion before it kicks into full gear. There is some outstanding guitar work at play here that will get anyone banging their head. Lyrically you could interpret this as the ultimate demise of a dictator when the masses finally have had enough and the rebellion is imminent or alternatively when someone close to you have told lie upon lie and their sense of grandeur and illusion finally breaks: “My how the mighty have fallen, And I believed in you”
Knives Out is a no nonsense assault on the senses, memorable from the start and channels the legendary Dimebag Darrell for the guitar prowess utilised herein. I do also love the bass on this track and it is anything but gentle as carried out by the bands bassist Gentle Ben!
Manhattan is an incredibly poignant track reflected with the melancholic guitar and the doom-laden bass in the verses. It goes up a notch once the chorus hits and reflects how much power there is available at the touch of a button. Interestingly the use of similes and metaphors used within the lyrics is very cleverly presented “Am I Oppenheimer, in the grip of your charm, But like the Trinity, you’re out of my arms”
Put your pedal to the metal with the thrashtastic track Catfish! This will encourage plenty of vocal exchanges with fans in a live setting and I am sure everyone would also have their air guitars at the ready for the solos too.
Snakebite goes in a different direction to the rest of the album which is no bad thing. It just goes to show that when you get new creative input into a band it can help rejuvenate it. If the band were thinking of which song to release as a single after the title track, this would certainly be at the top of my list.
Just when you think you know what to expect with this album PROMETHIUM change the rules once again. The album finale, My Fate, makes some good use of symphonic touches which really elevates this track. As mentioned previously, the band have always done good to portray mental health within their songs and this is no exception when it comes to battling ones demons: “Inside of me there is something living, I’ll never call it a soul, Lost my way I’m so full of hate, That I’m slowly losing control”
Do yourself a favour and make this the next album you listen to as its’s an absolute banger! This album has created a new lease of life and direction for PROMETHIUM and I am excited to see how this explodes outwards across the scene.
Rating: 10/10
Words: Martin White
Bleeding The Ghost is out now.
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