Switchtense - "Switchtense" (2011)

[metal-man]

confrontation*

[Switchtense]

esta grande album!mas o confront of souls e qualquer coisa de fabuloso e dificil de igualar!!!

O que nao é mau necessariamente ehehee

Abraço Pedro e la nos vemos em Grandola pro festival da Familia

[Switchtense]

Review CraveMetal

Switchtense are a heavy metal band from the depths of Portugal, but have more in common, sonically at least, with bands that have come from the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal. Switchtense is the follow up from their debut album Confrontation of Souls.

Concrete Wall kicks this album off and it does so in quite a meaty fashion, as once this track gets started, it’s hard not to imagine carnage in the middle of a pit. This leads straight into Face Off and this song kicks up the intensity yet again, with some riffs that sound like they were ripped straight out of Lamb of Gods back catalogue. Also the lyrics are very Randy esque. Whilt not a bad thing, it does make me think that I’m listening to a Lamb of God track than a Switchtense track.

Living A Lie kicks off with an opening riff which will literally melt your face. There is no denying that there is some killer musicianship on this album. This track is absolutely brutal and unrelenting. This one definitely shows them in their A game.

In Front OF Your Eye’s and Unbreakable follow and it is more of the same, unrelenting heavy tracks that kick off energy and just make you want to be in a pit.

Head of State is next, and the opener sounds different, a lot more evil (Which for me is always a good thing). It then goes into some unrelenting heavy metal, which is definitely becoming the standard for this album.

This is Only The Beginning could be taken as a statement of intent from this band, who have definitely proved over the previous tracks that their out with something to prove. Another heavy, unrelenting track.

Let Them Die Alone and Scars of Attitude is up next, and again, these tracks seem to be right out of Lamb of Gods back catalogue. Whilst not necessarily bad, it does seem like a case of split identity between Switchtense and Lamb of God.

I Will Stand Stronger is another song that shows Switchtense moving away from the Lamb of God riffs and developing a sense of identity for their own. A brilliant song, which stands out from the rest of the tracks here.

The Legacy of Hate is the penultimate song, and it features guest vocals from Dew-Scented’s Lief Jenson. Having the two vocalists makes this a chaotic and outstanding track. This is a perfect example of what Switchtense could easily become. Amazing song and best track on the album.

Album closer Awaiting the Downfall is the final track on the album, and it goes out with a bang of heavy guitars and furious drumming. If there was any song on here that makes you leave thinking of Switchtense, then this is it. Brilliant song.

Overall Switchtense is an extremely good album. Only negative thing for me is that it seems like their trying too hard to be Lamb of God and if they were to focus more on sounding like themselves, they would be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
4 / 5
In, http://www.cravemetal.com
http://www.cravemetal.com/?p=6068

[Switchtense]

Review The New Review- EUA

I have been hearing about a lot of stuff coming out of Portugal lately. Are they becoming the new face of metal? Today I’m bringing you a taste of why you should be paying attention to this scene with a band called Switchtense.

Chances are you’ve already heard of Switchtense if you’ve been to a major metal concert in roughly the last 10 years. They formed in 2002 and have been touring since then, recently playing with acts like Devildriver and Hatesphere. Indeed, they play music in the same vein as these acts as well as other harder thrash acts like Lamb of God, Hatebreed and the notorious Pantera (of course).

In 2009 Switchtense came out with their first album, Confrontation of Souls. It was well received, but didn’t get as much press here in the US as it did in Europe. It’s a good, strong album, but comes off as a little too typical. Maybe it was the production work, but the live presence Switchtense has on stage just didn’t translate to the album.

Don’t stumble on the past, though. Switchtense has found their footing in the US with this new self-titled release. When I asked Lee, The NewReview’s lead metalhead, for some new music to review I only had one criteria, “make it angry.” Now I know Lee doesn’t fuck around with angry music. With the likes of chants like, “I will stand stronger!” and “Let them die alone!” this album delivers plenty of anger. It was exactly what I needed to get through the work week.

Pay attention to Hugo, the lead singer. He has a pair of lungs that produces some mean growls and some epic howls. It’s obvious he’s been doing this for a while. This album shows that he isn’t holding anything back. Behind him is a band worthy of the task, including Pardal on guitar, Karia on bass, Neto on guitar and Xinês on drums. These guys are responsible for consistent rocking-the-fuck-out that makes up the rest of Switchtense.

I believe one of the strengths of this album is the transitions between songs. The first significant break you hear from the start of the album is at the start of track five. The first couple times through I thought track one was 20 minutes long. Songs flow into one another gracefully, even in this break. Everything is considered in the construction and design of this album. It’s designed for high energy for long periods of time.

I really wish more bands did what Switchtense was able to do. They built up a stage presence, refining themselves and their sound in between shows. It gave Switchtense the time to figure out who they were before having to pander to the audience. Once you have a sound about you and tracks everyone knows it’s very difficult to change the sound you produced on the album and play that on stage. Here’s hoping Switchtense keeps refining what they’ve managed to put together. Keep touring! Convert more fans through putting on a brutal show.

When you get this album you should give a listen to “Concrete Walls” through “In Front of Your Eyes”. It’s a great set of songs made to work together. From there listen to “I Will Stand Stronger” and “Awaiting the Downfall”. You won’t be disappointed.

I’m going to keep my ear to the ground in Portugal from now on. I was disappointed by AVA INFERI, but really those guys were from all over, so that doesn’t count as being a Portugal Band. Bring out the brutality.

4,5 / 5
In, The New Review
http://thenewreview.net/reviews/switchtense-switchtense

[Costa_Maggot]

E está encontrado o álbum do ano!!
Vocês não param de surpreender.
A fasquia estava alta com o Confrontation of Souls e, na minha opinião, conseguiram superar.
Está mais maduro, graças a toda a experiência acumulada durante estes anos e mais violento.
Força aí que a gente vê-se por Grândola!

[Switchtense]

Review do Metal Imperium

Fez em Março dois anos, que fiz a crítica ao longa duração de estreia dos Switchtense "Confrontation Of Souls" e dei conta de que tinha em mãos um dos melhores álbuns nacionais desse ano, o que se veio a confirmar. O álbum de estreia do colectivo, foi um trabalho marcante no panorama de peso português e mostrou a muita gente que se dignou a ouvi-lo, ser um disco que não fica nada a dever ao que se faz lá fora dentro do género. A carreira do grupo deu um salto significativo fruto desse excelente álbum e de muitas e demolidoras actuações por todo o país. Os Switchtense são sem dúvida uma banda de palco e isso reflecte-se na energia e qualidade dos seus discos, o que fica bem demonstrado neste segundo álbum.

As características que os tornaram conhecidos estão todas aqui: o thrash poderoso, rápido, moderno e cheio de groove e uma costela hardcore não tão acentuada como no álbum de estreia, mas ainda assim presente. O álbum é maioritariamente rápido - há aqui temas ainda mais velozes do que em "Confrontation Of Souls" - mas também alguns mais meio tempo do que nesse trabalho. As duas últimas músicas têm alguns riffs a roçar o death/thrash, o que até pode vir a ser mais explorado futuramente pela banda. Pardal e Neto com vários excelentes riffs, ora mais thrash ora mais groovy, demonstram ser uma das melhores duplas de guitarristas do metal nacional (tanto em estúdio como ao vivo). Hugo mantém o seu registo berrado bem poderoso e agressivo, que tão bem encaixa na sonoridade dos Switchtense e a cereja no topo do bolo é o fantástico trabalho de bateria do imparável Chinês.

O segundo álbum de uma banda costuma ser muito importante ou mesmo decisivo para a carreira da mesma, ainda mais quando o primeiro álbum é de grande nível. Neste caso depois de várias audições concluí que o novo disco supera a estreia, devido principalmente a um conjunto de temas ainda mais forte do que o de "Confrontation Of Souls". "Face Off", "In Front Of Your Eyes", "Legacy Of Hate", "Unbreakable", "This Is Only The Beginning", "Die Alone", entre outros, são os novos gritos de guerra dos Switchtense, grandes temas que irão elevar a banda a outro patamar, manter os fãs antigos e ganhar mais um bom número deles.

Este é um disco altamente recomendado a fãs de bandas como: Lamb Of God, Pantera, Hatebreed, Hatesphere, The Haunted, Sepultura, ou Dew-Scented. Nuns casos por influência directa no som da banda, noutros mais por similaridades estilísticas. Poderá agradar a todos os apreciadores do thrash mais moderno e/ou agressivo e os apreciadores do género, não precisam mais de consumir o que vem de fora, porque temos um nome no mesmo patamar dos melhores! "Switchtense" é um grande álbum, sem dúvida um dos melhores dos últimos anos a nível nacional.
8.6/10
In, Metal Imperium
http://metalimperium.blogspot.com/2011/ ... eview.html

[Switchtense]

Review vinda da Belgica, na publicaçao MindView
Se alguem conseguir traduzir, agradeciamos

[Switchtense]

Review Imagem do Som

Lançados para o mundo da música em 2002, os Switchtense mantêm a formação actual desde 2007, um ano depois de lançar o E.P. “Brainwash Show”. Dois anos mais tarde lançam “Confrontation Of Souls”, o primeiro álbum da banda, e novamente dois anos mais tarde, com o carimbo da Rastilho Records, lançam o álbum com o mesmo nome da banda, “Switchtense”.

A banda da moita, quase venerada por fãs de bandas como Hatebreed, Hatesphere ou até mesmo Pantera, lança previamente "Unbreakable". Esta face do álbum mostrava a solidez da composição musical da banda, pelo registo vocal de Hugo, quase inconfundível dentro do género, e os riffs rápidos e acelerados da dupla de guitarristas, fazendo antever desde cedo que “Switchtense” seria um álbum bruto e cru, mas superou as expectativas.

A pujança de "Face off" é suficiente para nos fazer esquecer o trabalho de muitas bandas nacionais dentro do mesmo estilo, e se acharem que não é suficiente juntem-lhe "Let Them Die Alone", uma malha onde gritos, berros e grunhidos, batidas fortes e riffs de se lhe tirar o chapéu não faltam, como em praticamente todo o álbum, marcado groove e hardcore. "Awaiting the downfall" ´é o tema onde se vê que o Thrash ainda continua presente na banda.

São formações musicais como Switchetense que provam que "o que é nacional é bom", podendo-se até comparar com várias bandas internacionais. Quer em estúdio, quer em palco, a banda mostra bastante maturidade e solidez com a receita completa para poderem subir a grandes palcos, sejam eles nacionais ou internacionais.

Num jeito de remate final, o álbum é fantástico por um todo, podendo ser mesmo um dos melhores lançamentos de 2011. O único ponto mais fraco presente é o fade-in em "Concrete walls" e "Unbreakable" que vai um pouco contra a robustez de todo o álbum.

O álbum pode ser adquirido desde 23 de Maio em todo o país.
Ricardo Lopes
8/10 -
In, Imagem do Som
http://www.imagemdosom.com/index.php/al ... witchtense

[Le Point Noir]

Review vinda da Belgica, na publicaçao MindView
Se alguem conseguir traduzir, agradeciamos

tens pm

[Switchtense]

Obrigadinho

[Sanguessuga]

Já vi o vosso album á venda e ouvi

[Switchtense]

Review Zware Metalen - Holanda

Het Portugese Switchtense is toe aan zijn tweede plaat. De band speelt een moderne versie van thrash metal, en daar komen ze graag voor uit. Zetten ze Portugal nu ook qua thrash op de kaart?

Dat zou best kunnen. Switchtense brengt namelijk nummers die de vurige pit uit jaren tachtig thrash bezitten, in een mengvorm met Scandinavisch gitaarwerk (The Haunted) en Amerikaanse NWOAHM-grooves. Een vrij brutale zanger met een hardcore-attitude buldert aan de zijde van opzwepend gitaargerag en basdrum-aangedreven patronen met typische headbangzuchtige polka's. Het lijkt een onuitputtelijke generator die de eerste luisterbeurten zelfs zonder begrip van de teksten overleeft, puur op energie en agressie.

Switchtense is een band die Amerika en Scandinavië thrashgewijs aan elkaar koppelt, zowel in het heden als verleden. Ik mis persoonlijk wat catchy elementen, geen nood, er zijn mensen genoeg die gaan voor dit soort losgeslagen thrashmateriaal. Prima album, zonder meer.
79/100
In Zware Metalen
http://www.zwaremetalen.com/recensie/19 ... tense.html

[Switchtense]

Review na Blabbermouth

We've heard a lot of this new school, hardcore-tough thrash metal these last several years and fortunately quite a few bands do it well. But progression is not a characteristic of the genre, which suits the bands and many fans of the style just fine. Separation from the pack however is difficult to achieve, a truth that has kept acts like HATESPHERE and UNHOLY moving, just not in a forward direction. Such is the case with Portugal's SWITCHTENSE who've just released their sophomore self-titled full-length.
There is no shortage of aggression on this sucker and even when the album dips into redundancy, a wrecked necked is still a good bet. Better than average, though not by much, SWITCHTENSE hit it hard and fast, usually similar to the approach taken by DEW-SCENTED, albeit without the same degree of songwriting skill. That DEW-SCENTED vocalist Leif Jensen contributes to "Legacy of Hate" is anything but a shock. SWITCHTENSE vocalist Hugo Andrade brings a convincing rasp-bark, but would do well to pay closer attention to Jensen who possesses a firmer command of inflectional-shift and pattern-tweak. Occasionally you'll hear some PANTERA ("Head of State") or STAMPIN' GROUND ("Scars of Attitude"), but mostly SWITCHTENSE splits the difference between HATESPHERE and DEW-SCENTED.

Although SWITCHTENSE suffers from an affliction similar to HATESPHERE in that both acts rarely get over the songwriting hump and leave an indelible mental mark, tracks like "Faceoff" and a few others show promise. SWITCHTENSE do leave numerous other marks, mostly those of the bruised and broken variety. The new full-length is hard as nails and presents no real barriers to an enjoyably violent listening experience. The main issue of note is that the new long player doesn't move SWITCHTENSE any closer to the pack leaders. Be that as it may, few would find reason to run for the "stop" button when this one is blasting at full volume.
Scott Alisoglu
6/10
In Blabbermouth
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbe ... iewID=2223

[Switchtense]

Review We Love Metal.Com

In 2009 during the ever expanding metal exports from Portugal we saw the band Switchtense burst onto the scene and make an everlasting mark with their debut album “Confrontation of Souls.” A few words that were used to describe Switchtense were: brutal, vicious, technically gifted, blood soaked metal that is not for the weak of heart, and many other words that describe an onslaught of metal that tickles your taste buds with soul wrenching intensity.

You have to wonder with a lead in like that how much pressure was placed on Switchtense to follow up their debut with something as equally daunting and severe. Having toured with the likes of Devildriver, Hatesphere, and Soulfly you know the band has witnessed what it takes to make it in this business, but did it change their outlook on making music? Did they decide to go a more commercial route? Has the pressure taken its toll on the members? Numerous questions were being asked leading into the release of the self-titled Switchtense.

It turns out the name was very fitting because this album is a reintroduction to the band’s music and what they stand for. With so many questions floating around it’s very easy to begin to criticize any changes they have made. Switchtense has combated this by providing us with another high intensity, in your face record that will show the world this band has full intentions of moving their thrash based – hardcore rhythms forward in the only way they know how: brutally.
While listening to the record the words I used above came up time and time again. The simple fact is this record is extremely intense and the dual guitar attack of Neto and Pardal keep the songs sounding fresh and challenge the vocals of Hugo to stay tight and on pace. Over the span of the 12 tracks you will find the entire band having a chance to shine with delicate solos that are dedicated to showing the world the musicianship and technical song writing that is needed to pull off this complicated piece of hardcore metal.

To compare Switchtense to other bands doesn’t really do them any justice, but you can certainly hear the likes of Slayer and Lamb of God in a track like the solo ridden, pace changing “Awaiting the Downfall.” “Living A Lie” could also be attributed to having influence from those bands as well. There is a liberal use of thrash rhythms to hold these songs to their genre and pay tribute to what I would say are major influences to Switchtense.

We see a guest vocal spot by Leif Jenson of Dew-Scented on the incredible “The Legacy of Hate.” The song is geared around the vocals, but the guitar work and bass work of Keria shine in keeping the vocals at the forefront, but not letting the song get carried away by forgetting about the amazing musicians behind the front men. Much like the entire album Xines is so solid on drums you can at time take for granite how tight his work is.

With songs like “The Legacy of Hate,” “Head of State,” and “Living A Lie” this self-titled sophomore album by Switchtense proves to the world that these guys are for real and will continue to dominate the world with their thrash based hardcore music. Warning: listening to Switchtense while in a bad mood will lead to unnecessary destruction of your property.
8/10

In We Love Metal.Com
http://www.welovemetal.com/newsite/word ... itchtense/

[Switchtense]

Review Blistering

A name that is clearly the product of a band with English as their second (or possibly third) language, Portgual’s Switchtense are able to work around this odd word pairing for a nice round of brisk Euro thrash. On their self-titled album (and second overall), the band evoke the visions of an angular Hatesphere, something that will always get the thumbs-up from the Blistering crew.

Lots of down-beats and spunky riffs to be had, as the band wastes no time in kicking up a storm on “Concrete Walls,” “Face Off” and “Living A Lie.” The bulk of the band’s riff selections are primo, especially the groove-laden portions of “Living A Lie,” which employs a lot of the 4/4 groove and pummel that Hatesphere is so enamored with. The band takes things to even higher level on “Unbreakable,” where cut-throat tremolo picking and lead dive-bombs are on full display.

With little variation to be found, Switchintense do have a hard time staying away from the polka-beat/vintage thrash formula. It’s something the band tries to break away from on “Head of State” and “I Will Stand Stronger” only to be brought back to the thrash party on “This Is Only the Beginning” and “Legacy of Hate,” which features a guest vocal appearance from Leif Jensen of Dew-Scented, another proper sound reference. Such tactics are commonplace for bands of this ilk – it’s so easy to down-beat things to death that getting stuck in one songwriting mode happens all too frequently.

Propensity to be too heavy on the straight-thrash aside, Switchtense have all the makings of a solid up-and-coming band. When they’re firing on all cylinders, they threaten to nip at the heels of Dew-Scented and Hatesphere. Let’s hope they get the whole “variety” thing down, and people don’t knock them for their awkward moniker…
7.5/10

in, Blistering
http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpen ... b981b68871