One look at the six members of Marionette and you will probably think Emo or some sort of Goth is about to punish your ears. Dressed like something I would expect from AFI or Marilyn Masons children, this Swedish act is more serious than you think. I for one was fooled until I popped in this bad mother they call Spite. This is one of the few bands I have heard mix young attitude with the more extreme elements of metal and succeed with ease.

Armed with the crispiest production known to man, Marionette could fall into that pain in the ass Metalcore genre or the pop metal category. Truth is they do, except the formula to stay alive has graced this band and Spite is a catchy, badass motherfucker that mixes the best of a lot of familiar sounds. The main portion of the bands sound is definitely rooted in the modern Swedish melodic death metal vibe but more extreme aspects like Naglfar, Skyfire, Dimmu Borgir, and other symphonic acts are prominently present. Even the speed and progressive nature of bands like Mors Principium Est and Dimension Zero are present. All that laced with numerous catchy areas make this band a hot commodity.

Though the catchiness and accessibility may turn some underground fans off at first, I recommend a strong listen. Everything is layered perfectly and the musicianship rivals some classic acts. Bass pops roll right over some of the changes with ease and come through clearly and the drumming is just intense. Blast beats and machinelike hits keep the music on edge constantly. Off-chug breakdowns make up a lot of Marionette’s sound however they are accompanied by atmospheric keyboards and harmonies that would make Killswitch Engage proud.

Vocally, the deliver is very Gothenburg melodic death metal and is reminiscent of Jocke Gothbers (Marduck, Dimension Zero.) Low death growls are obvious and accompany the shrieks and Unearth style shouts.

Marionette rocks! It’s just that easy. Fans of In Flames, Closer, and Daysend have found yet another step above the norm in a crowded genre. Give this a chance

[Visit the band's website]

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