Monolithic, pummelling grooves, soulful vocals and proggy, evocative touches of keyboard... Long Island, NY residents Tenpoint deliver more than enough of the above formula on debut EP ‘Northern Rock’ to make heavy music devotees sit up and take notice, even before one factors in the band’s considerable collective history. Comprised of four lifelong friends with over a decade’s experience in the music world, the band build upon a basic hard rock foundation, incorporating the swagger of southern rock and dramatics of progressive metal with a host of other influences to create a sound that they themselves dub ‘Northern Rock’, led by a sludgy, treacle thick guitar tone that’s reminiscent of Down or Corrosion of Conformity at their most weighty. On opener ‘Killing Me’ the band set out their stall in unequivocal fashion, Mike DiMeo (Formerly of legendary 80s act Riot and German power metallers Masterplan) holding his own against the instrumental barrage with a distinctive vocal style that’s powerful and compelling without resorting to excessive histrionics, drummer Doug Bohn (best known for his work with death metal pioneers Suffocation) providing a hefty yet somewhat restrained anchor to the general riffery. Meanwhile, ‘I Alone’ brings the quartet’s melodic streak to the fore and closing track ‘Over now’ demonstrates the versatility of guitarist Steve Seigerman (Welt, Ironlung) and bassist Chris Kozikowski, (Destroyed By Anger) funereal choruses segueing into a monitor frazzling, chest beating chorus section that commands a listener to bang their head like a loon. As you might have gathered we’re pretty damn impressed with this release, and the band’s forthcoming full-length is something that we’re champing at the bit to hear... if you love crushingly heavy music with a heart and melodic sensibility, you may well agree.

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