Rattlesnakes — Deeper Shades Of Torment Review
Rattlesnakes, is a female-fronted heavy metal band from Nottingham, UK. Established in 2024, the group released their independent debut EP, “Deeper Shades Of Torment,” on April 11th, which was promoted through VladPRomotions.
The First Three Sins, The Summary
The Fourth Sin, Overall Discussion
Fangs That Grabs You by the Throat
As soon as the listener presses that play button, the opening riff of Love Me Harder pulls them straight into the heart of the music. There’s no fancy intro or long build-up—it’s simply a punchy, in-your-face sound that grabs your attention instantly. This attitude set the tone for the entire album, making it clear that this band isn’t about overproduced fluff—this is heavy, real, and uncompromising.
A Surge of Pure Metal Energy
Deeper Shades Of Torment is a five-song collection that runs for just twenty minutes. But don’t let the short duration fool you; this will make you run to the hills—right before the torment catches up. Within those twenty minutes, the band packs enough muscular riffs, pounding rhythms, and sharp melodies to rival some great heavy metal anthems of the past. These aren’t fragmentary ideas crammed into a quick burst of noise. Instead, each track builds on the last, adding new layers of intensity.
The whole experience feels like a mini metal marathon—short, sharp, and intense. It’s loud enough to shake your bones but crafted enough to prove that this band understands their craft.
Young Blood, Old Soul
In the realm of young bands, Deeper Shades Of Torment appears to be a forbidden fruit. They’re still fresh on the scene but carry a sound that doesn’t sound like a rookie’s work. It’s familiar yet new, rooted in the classics of old-school heavy metal and hard rock. The influence of giants like Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy is impossible to miss. You hear the echoes of galloping riffs, twin harmonies, and melodic solos that could easily fit into legendary recordings.
Yet, the energy and freshness they bring give those sounds a new twist. You can hear there is something special here, especially the lead vocalist, just 22 or so, but her voice is fierce. She sings like she’s been doing this for decades, hitting high notes with ease, unleashing raw power that commands attention. Her voice adds a sense of urgency and attitude, making every chorus feel like a rallying cry.
Production with Intent and Grit
For the sound and recording quality of this album are crafted to strike a balance between professionalism and raw energy. At the same time, achieving a polished and clean mix that’s not sterile. Instead, there’s a rawness woven into every track that keeps the energy alive, and the producer aimed for an organic, live feel rather than polishing every nuance into a perfect, sterile product. This choice allows listeners to feel as if they’re right there in the room with the band.
The production brings out the instrumental clarity, giving each element space to breathe and shine without overpowering each other. It’s a testament to the fruit of art devilmanship and sensitivity of the recording process, capturing the true spirit of the band’s performance.
The Pulse Behind the Power & Vocal Reign
Rattlesnakes twin guitar work features harmonies in the spirit of Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden, featuring high-flying galloping riffs and melodic solos, with a crunchy tone but articulate. The bass doesn’t just follow the guitar—it anchors the rhythm section in a punchy, driving presence. It’s especially noticeable in the more propulsive tracks, where it locks in tightly with the drums to create that classical metal momentum.
The drum work is energetic and precise, with a strong emphasis on groove and pacing. It’s not overly flashy, but it’s rock solid—providing the backbone for the band’s dynamic shifts and tempo changes. For the vocals… Rowena’s vocals are a fruit of art, packed with grit and power. She hits high notes with ease and confidence, but she never loses her raw emotion. On Love Me Harder, she really lets go, pouring feeling into each line. The chorus even brings in gang vocals, giving it extra punch and energy. Her voice captures both strength and vulnerability, making the song stand out.
Shredding The Snake’s Skin
Rattlesnakes, is a forbidden fruit; there is so much going on in a short time. Love Me Harder, as mentioned, the vocals, are front and centre—raw, commanding, and full of emotion. The riffs are gritty, with a steady mid-tempo groove that pulls you in. Firestarter speeds up the pace, hitting hard and aggressively, almost like a track from Iron Maiden’s Powerslave. Honesty is short but impactful—a breather with cleaner guitars and a slower beat.
Selfish Soul stands out as a song that fuses melody with power, showing strength and finesse together. Burn For You, the closing track, sums it all up. It starts dark and builds into a full-on metal anthem. The solos are simple but melodic. The rhythm section is tight, locking everything in place. Rowena’s vocals hit their peak here—gritty, fierce, powerhouse growls, and full of emotion. This album pushes boundaries but stays honest to its core.
Each track brings something slightly different, but together they form a cohesive, high-energy statement.
A EP That Demands to Be Heard
This is not just an EP, Deeper Shades Of Torment is a lot of energy, blood, and sweat has gone into this mini album, and one thing is sure: all this energy, blood, and sweat is ripped through one’s speakers.
The Closing: Into the Abyss: One Last Rattle Before the Silence
As the album reaches its final moments, a fate cry of “Sweet Child Of Mine,” can be heard in the soaring vocals. We want to give a shoutout to VladPRomotions for letting us review Rattlesnakes, and their EP Deeper Shades Of Torment. Now, we are going to conclude the review by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish
Rattlesnakes
Elliott Dryden — Bass
Nathan Gratton — Drums
Rowena Neale — Vocals
Jacob Shingler — Guitars
Josh Brown — Guitars