Setting what surely must be some sort of record, Texan metalcore merchants Lockjaw finally release their full-length studio debut twenty-five years after coming into existence. Formed in 1998, the band garnered a decent live reputation but disappeared shortly into the 2000s. Reactivated with a little tweaking in the personnel department, the independently released ‘Deadlights’ single appeared in 2018 followed by four more songs released over 2021 and 2022. Always moving towards a full-length album, Lockjaw 2.0 now deliver on that promise with Relentless (AISAUS/The Orchard), a record sure to please many a groove metal enthusiast.
Metalcore-and-a-half opener and first single ‘Silence The Fear’ introduces you unceremoniously to the band with Killswitch Engage meets Lamb of God riffs and a killer melodic solo from new guitarist Justin McCurley. With its stomping groove, beefy melodic chorus, and thumping breakdown, ‘I Can’t Escape’ is an ungodly physical coupling between Machine Head and Stone Sour while Slayer watches from the bathroom.
A simple but effective heads-down blast with another strong chorus, the title track sees Machine Head leaving Stone Sour in a sweaty, fleshy heap on the floor before making its move on a helpless drunken Trivium. The second single ‘Living Inside My Head’ finds vocalist Joe Ortiz putting in a great performance, using a combination of clean tones and bellowing roars to equal effect as the Trivium influence comes out on top only to meet a lurking Pantera in a brutal climactic breakdown.
‘Sever’ and ‘Release Me’ find Stone Sour slowly regaining consciousness, Ortiz often sounding more than a little like Corey Taylor while third and final singles ‘Devil In Disguise’ and ‘Breaking Point’ explore more Corey-isms with Slipknot style choruses but without quite the same level of unbridled chaos. Closing out the album, ‘No Gods Among Men’ provides a suitably chuggy climax created by angry and confused newborn, TrivSlip SourHead.
Featuring a strong, confident performance from original six-stringer Jeff Ogle backed by a venomous rhythm section consisting of bassist Gabriel Ayala and sticksman Scott Letz, Relentless is an enthusiastic offering blessed with a clear, punchy production.
However, while the songs themselves are all perfectly fine, the band doesn’t really bring anything unique to the party. No instantly recognisable signature to grab you and say, “this is Lockjaw, motherfuckers!”, instead of stamping their authority on a waiting metal world, the band essentially deliver (admittedly high quality) fan service. But then again, when many of the songs are worthy of their revered influences anyway, is that such a bad thing?
Buy the album here:
7 / 10
GARY ALCOCK