Review: Mallory Knox - Asymmetry

Singles “Ghost In The Mirror” and “Shout At The Moon” display the band’s intentions for this album, with “Ghost In The Mirror” showing how they’ve perfected their heavy rock sound and “Shout At The Moon” mixing what they’re already good at with something a bit different.
One of my favourite things about Mallory Knox is their ability to somehow mix loud rock beats with some not-so-heavy vocal melodies. Tracks like “Getaway”, “Fire” and “Lonely Hours” really show this diverse, middle ground sound that the band have managed to create. However, creating heavy rock tracks is what the band does best and there are great examples of this on the album; “Dying To Survive” and “The Remedy” are real in-your-face works. The band show they know how to use strong guitar riffs and create drum beats that really pack a punch, resulting in a great sound.
Meanwhile, softer tracks like “Heart and Desire” allow the audience to hear the ability Mallory Knox have to create tracks that are on the softer side of the spectrum. Both the lead vocals and harmonies are showcased in the track and are complimented beautifully by the accompanying instruments. The band’s ability to layer vocals and create harmonies is something really special, and it is shown perfectly on “Heart and Desire”, especially through the final stages of the song.
The standout tune from Asymmetry has to be the seventh, “She Took Him To The Lake”. This song alone is a masterpiece. Lasting over 7 minutes, it shows that the band are able to create high quality music and maintain it for a longer period of time. The track features variations of their sound, all of which work together unbelievably well.
Closing the album is “Dare You”, which, for me, really sums up what Asymmetry is about. Musically, it has the signature elements of a Mallory Knox song, mixing both softer melodies with an occasional heavy rock element. Like the rest of the album, it still contains many hints of the band’s past work, but at the same time, you can hear differences between this and previous releases.
Asymmetry is a real step up from Mallory Knox’s debut full-length, Signals. Since the release of the debut, the band have been able to master their craft, resulting in a stronger more mature sound that is overall outstanding.
Download: She Took Him To The Lake
4/5
By Shannon Morton
