The rise of the UK Hardcore scene continues strongly with the release of 'Sleepwalkers' by Dead Swans. Dead Swans are a band that have toured with Architects in the past (I remember seeing them at Stoke Sugarmill a couple of years back on that tour, the live show given the venue was what would be expected, hardcore dancing etc. Dead Swans did put on a good show).

'Sleepwalkers' decides to assault the senses with short, sharp shocks (no song on the album goes past 3 mins) which, given the Hardcore scene, fits it in line with not only UK peers but the classic US hardcore bands. Vocally it's what you would expect. A bit of growling and screaming however (and this is slightly a down side for me) that's all we get. No melody, no sing-song bits, just pure hardcore.

'Sleepwalkers' shows what Dead Swans are capable of but there's one part of the PR blurb that came with the review CD that stood out to me. It was when the guitarist mentioned that Dead Swans was all about the live show. Which I would have to agree with. Dead Swans come over more impressively in a live arena than they do on an album. Don't get me wrong, 'Sleepwalkers' is good in the way it keeps the hardcore roots however, the spark from their live show doesn't seem to have come through as much as I feel they had wanted or hoped it would have.

My overall opinion of 'Sleepwalkers' is that it is a good album that will definitely be pleasing their fans and fans of hardcore music in general. For any new Dead Swans fans I would suggest that, like me, you see them live first then fully decide!