Despite being a brand new band about to release their full debut, Good Tiger actually have quite the pedigree in their ranks. With a lineup which contains former TesseracT singer Elliot Coleman, ex-Safety Fire guitarists Joaquin Ardiles and Derya Nagle and ex- The Faceless drummer Alex Rüdinger, as well as previous touring Architects bassist Morgan Sinclair, you have a collection with exemplary experience in technical and progressive metal. So it comes as no surprise that A Head Full Of Moonlight (Blacklight Media/Metal Blade) should fit into this bracket once more, but with some signs of its own character coming through.

As album opener begins with an almost bluesy guitar passage, its clear that this won’t just fit into the same stock as much of their alumni suggests and instead offers a subtle but wide palette of styles throughout. That’s not to say this isn’t still fundamentally a tech metal album, as such tones and structures are still its very fabric and its familiarity should ease fans of their former bands, but there is just a bit more elsewhere going on.

The most notable aspect of diversity comes with Coleman’s vocals which range from harsh growls and softer singing, but also manages to adapt to the band’s more pop passages. In fact its these pop sensibilities that actually prove the album’s most exciting and interesting moments, otherwise when it picks up pace and technicality is where it doesn’t stand out much from its peers; competent and even strong and catchy but far from innovating.

Even if they comprise of established tech-metal alumni, Good Tiger have still given a confident and worthwhile debut with plenty of potential at play, and some signs of carving a niche for their own. Sadly, this does also veer into much of the same territory in a scene that is already very crowded. With plenty to build on however, these could still prove an exciting force in progressive metal circles, but they need to really let their own voice be heard.

7.0/10

CHRIS TIPPELL

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