WARATTAH

Rock Tribune, Belgium, april 2007, pag. 80


Warattah
Distorsion (DEMO), self-released

In spite of praiseworthy efforts of young bands like Out, Scarve, Dagoba et Gojira , we can’t really praise our southern neighbours (France) to Heaven, despite the many bands who could break through since the New Wave.
The quantity of bands has grown and one of these newcomers are WARATTAH from Bordeaux, who are bringing us their brand new first demo.
They play solid metal but in a modern way.
While I am listening to « Fits of Rage », Khris’s voice reminds me of Cliff Rigano, the screaming monster from Dry Kill Logic.
We also hear another New-Metal section in « Skulls in a River Beds ». Spontaneously, it makes me think about the Dutch band « Agresion ».
On « Song to a close Friend », Xav’s drums are elevating the song to a higher level. You could compare the drums with a less successful variation of Chris Adler (Lamb of God).
On « The Void », a special place is made for Cyril, the bass player. His bass lines remind me of Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne) who sometimes takes a walk along the rhythm. The three men can really be proud of their demo.

Info :
http://www.myspace .com/warattah

Ingmar Versporten
- Ingmar Versporten

Warattah
Rough and tough
Agressive, powerful and direct metal. These are the only words to describe the group Warattah. Rough and raw, but in any case real. Everybody who listens to the demo Distorsion, can hardly believe we are speaking about a demo. There are certainly influences of Pantera and especially those who like trash/speed-metal will confirm this. The energy that Warattah radiates, is back to the source. Pure spirit.
The metal-group Warattah is from Bordeaux and was set up in December 2005. Khris is the singer and founder. Next to him are also Cyril, Xav and Denis part of Warattah. An outstanding combination which was brought together by Khris two years ago. “After Oversoul I wanted to start with a new group. A fresh beginning with equal souls. Xav, Cyril and Denis were the answer to my questions. We were right from the start on the same level en after a few months, we were able to finish the first demo. I wanted to enjoy every second, but the stress was enormously,’ says Khris.
The name Warattah has no meaning at all? A deliberate choise? Khris: “Absolutely, this is what I’ve learned from my experience. When the name of a group has a meaning, people search something in it. And I wanted to avoid that. Warattah sounds aggressive, raw and full of energy. And so is our music.”
Hate
The four songs on Distorsion are: Fits of rage, Song to a close friend, Skulls in the river bed and The void. A few things catch the eye: the hate and the brute sound of the voice which is coming from deep inside. Everybody who is listening to the CD feels like jumping outside and screaming in the wind. That’s the sound of Warattah: so unbelievable real. In June 2006 Rock Hard chose Distorsion as demo of the month. Khris: “The music is aggressive and in some songs you truly hear the hate. The inspiration as well for the music as for the text, is coming from my own life. Sometimes also out of the life of people around me. Metal is often associated only with long hairs and screaming instead of singing guys. For me metal is a way to see things differently. Not mainstream, but into the teeth of the wind. I also think of the consumer society with all the boring uniformity. Metal is a reaction. A though reaction. For me Warattah means respect, loving each other and at the same time Warattah is also metal. I am sure that Distorion is the beginning of a beautiful future. The French metal-scene reacts enthusiastic and now it’s waiting for Belgium. Two weeks ago Warattah was nominated by Guitarist Mag. The 27th of April Warattah is in concert in Paris. The performance starts at 9 pm in Rock&Chanson/L’Antirouille (33) with ZUUL FX (Paris). You can also find the first podcast on iTunes.
- Man-Oeuvre,Oserieux,Mediawatchers,Communique by

Written by : Marc Desgagné

I ‘m catching my breath a few minutes before I start writing those lines.. "Distorsion" of Warratah, a young French band, is a demo ? This demo is powerful thrash-metal, direct et aggressive. It might be the first time that I have the feeling I’m hearing Pantera influences, a little bit for the guitars, without having a strange or result or even a failure. The band offers us pieces with nice influences, though they stay original.


"Fits Of Rage" and "Song To A Close Friend" allow us to hear the Hate and Violence in the vocals and the technical drums, and I won’t forget the guitars, which bring a cutting-edge sound. The only weak moments in my opinion are the lighter vocals on "Skulls In A River Beds" and the little melodic riffs, they don’t seem to fit with the rest of this presentation. Most of the tracks, like "The Void", make us feel like going outside, screaming and destroying anything that would stand on our way!


Seriously, I am surprised by the quality of the recordings. They recorded this demo 5 months after the band was created maturity is already a fact. In fact, I am more astonished by the fact that this band doesn’t even have any record-deal. They are 3 men in the band, but they’ ve got more energy than some 5-headed line-up’s. The guitars play a very important role, that you like it or not, our hearing is invited to listen and to stick around this particular sonority, like for example on the track “Fits of Rage”.


If you are a thrash/speed metal fan in the style of Pantera or the old Metallica, you just might adopt Warratah and "Distorsion". Personally, their sound and energy they smash right in our face have surprised me at many levels. There are no major failures on this album, a very strong demo. It might be a little bit difficult to approach for some amatures, but the work has been really well done.

Note : 8.5/10
- Marc Desgagné

Metallian, number 46, March/April 2007

Warattah (France)

Warattah is a young group from Bordeaux, which started in 2005.
The music makes one shiver and it is ‘groovy’, following the traces of Dagoba.
The voice is typical metalcore.
The rhythms are very precise and exactly developed, without falling into a higher bid (although the shadow of Meshuggah is always present). Warattah tries even ‘polyrhythms’ on “Skulls in a River Beds”, but this try-out is rather an effect of style, while it is obvious that the group prefers - from far - the basic rhythms for the headbanging.
The magical spell ‘power trio’ gives a sensation of fresh music, even to the point that the bass is not regulated on the second plan.
The metal of Warattah is certainly modern, but the sound of this production is very rough. Perhaps this aspect is due to a lack of funds or tools. But in the end, this style that often has the means to mechanise itself possesses a very human touch.
The band is currently seeking French or foreign booking managers.
You have to see them in concert! On stage, they are more then worthwhile.
- Laurent Bendahan

Guitarist Magazine n° 198, March/April 2007

WARATTAH
“Distorsion”

Fasten your seat belts before pushing the "Play" button, o.k?
Because, my friends, it’s a rough ride from the first second!
Warattah is a Metal-trio, brutal; full a perfectly assuming this kind of music, even though they let some clichés here and there.
But the screaming Bordeaux-people are avoiding the trap of falling in easy caricature.
The four compositions are sailing between pure, raw, New and Death Metal.
The voice is easily belching with conviction, and the fat guitars are taking the Lion's share. The riffing machine-guns are sweeping the landscape and are cleaning the horizon before taking us to the depths of the fat low B.
With only the three of them, they are making some fucking noise!
This big uproar can only lead to an ambitious fate in this specific scene.
Bright and skilled musicians, the Warattahs are mastering the needed know-how to strike hard and launch their missiles.
If the stage is the scene of their feat, the band is actually looking for a tour-organizer. A call to professionals!
So, we encourage you all to let your hears on the burning disc of Warattah.
To handle without a care: dynamite was made to blow everything around.
- Guitarist Magazine

Published in "Guitar Part" (France) which elected Distorsion as “autoproduction of the month” in the month of March 2007!

Warattah
A good smell of powder

A kick of adrenaline on the French scene: in Bordeaux a metal-group with explosive songs and with an apocalyptical sound seeks the sky, which is the limit. Only with four songs and a clip, Warattah is building a stairway to heaven.

Warattah was born in 2005. How did this story start?
Khris (guitar/singer): I played with a lot of groups before and all the songs were already written. The bassist, an old friend, had already joined me. For six months, I was looking for a drummer, who had the skills to be able to play these songs. Once I found him, everything went very quickly.

Are all three of Warattah full time musicians?
I am the only one who isn’t. I do interim jobs at night and during the day I have rehearsals.

Aie …
No, it is not so bad. It is true, that I don’t sleep a lot, then in the evenings I am busy with the communication of the group. Furthermore, I am a bad sleeper. It happens a lot that I wake up with songs in my head.

Ordinary metal-groups have more group-members to increase the sound. But Warattah is only with three. A deliberate choice?
It just happened that a fourth member has joined us, but at the moment we recorded “Distorsion”, we were only three.
We now have a new guitarist, you know him: his name is Denis Cornardo. He is a member of “Plug In” (was already in autoprod, GP, red).
The advantage is that he will be able to perform solos and give a bigger sound on stage!
When we have recorded the demo and to be loyal to what we could have done on scene with three, I didn’t play solos.



Do you rehearse every day? Do you think it’s necessary to break through?
For me it is, because I sing as well as I play guitar, and that’s no way basic music, so I have to rehearse intensively.
And it has always been my principle that “only hard work will pay in the end”.

Published in "Guitar Part" which elected Distorsion as “autoproduction of the month” in the month of March 2007!

WARATTAH
A good smell of powder

A kick of adrenaline on the French scene: in Bordeaux a metal-group with explosive songs and with an apocalyptical sound seeks the sky, which is the limit. Only with four songs and a clip, Warattah is building a stairway to heaven.

Warattah was born in 2005. How did this story start?
Khris (guitar/singer): I played with a lot of groups before and all the songs were already written. The bassist, an old friend, had already joined me. For six months, I was looking for a drummer, who had the skills to be able to play these songs. Once I found him, everything went very quickly.

Are all three of Warattah full time musicians?
I am the only one who isn’t. I do interim jobs at night and during the day I have rehearsals.

Aie …
No, it is not so bad. It is true, that I don’t sleep a lot, then in the evenings I am busy with the communication of the group. Furthermore, I am a bad sleeper. It happens a lot that I wake up with songs in my head.

Ordinary metal-groups have more group-members to increase the sound. But Warattah is only with three. A deliberate choice?
It just happened that a fourth member has joined us, but at the moment we recorded “Distorsion”, we were only three.
We now have a new guitarist, you know him: his name is Denis Cornardo. He is a member of “Plug In” (was already in autoprod, GP, red).
The advantage is that he will be able to perform solos and give a bigger sound on stage!
When we have recorded the demo and to be loyal to what we could have done on scene with three, I didn’t play solos.



Do you rehearse every day? Do you think it’s necessary to break through?
For me it is, because I sing as well as I play guitar, and that’s no way basic music, so I have to rehearse intensively.
And it has always been my principle that “only hard work will pay in the end”.

Only six month after the formation of Warattah, you already recorded four songs with a very personal touch. How can you explain it went so fast?
The demo was released after six months, but to record it, we took less time. The moment the drummer arrived, we rehearsed for two weeks and then we started recording.

Did it take a lot of practise to achieve the guitar-level that you obtained?
Yes, I practise every day: one, two hours at least. I really need this. One must realize that I have to control my guitar-parts fully in order to be able to sing on it.

Which equipment do you have?
I play a seven-strings. I also have two Schecters, a Omen-7 and a Black Jack, a Peavey 5150 and an effect rack with three gates: a Hush, a TC Electronic and a little pedal Boss. Furthermore, I have a Whammy and a Wah-Wah.

Do you use the distortion of the amplifier?
Yes, according to my feelings, a lamp amplifier is the best thing for what we are doing. Ok, the technology has evolved; now, everybody knows “line 6” ring - Thomas Batles

I don’t want to praise any kind of philosophical-mathematical theory, but I tend more and more to believe in the law of cycles. The proof is that two months ago, I was overloaded with low/middle-class albums. Today, my cynicism is condemned to silence, as the quality of the albums I have to review is very good. And my stomach ulcer is swelling from happiness. Warattah, a band from Bordeaux (France) that exists for just a year, doesn’t escape to this rule. Their first demo, made of 4 titles, firmly shows their potential.

The band insists not to name any of their influence, showing the will to let the created music be appreciated for what it is. I hope they will not be mad at me if I’m bending this rule for a short while; because it is more than obvious that our 3 Frenchies are wearing Meshuggah-underwears (with a tendency to "Destroy Erase Improve"). Shredding rhythms, guitars playing tight with the drums, thrashy vocals. What we have here is the same recipe, but with a light difference: from time to time we get some really sung parts, and not “screamed out” (but always with class anyhow. "Skulls In A River Beds" is the right example for this, and it is a very popular tendency among the French scene at this moment. This particularity has got 2 advantages: it gives an identity to the national sound in comparison with their European colleagues; musically, it gives the ability to reload the power in a song. When the constant bombing is beginning to lose its impact or is tending to get boring, Warattah never falls in the trap and always manage to stay interesting in an efficient way. A big fifteen minutes of pure headbanging for everybody, with some short breaks in order to light up a cigarette instead of your hair!
You will notify that the packaging has been treated with special care, and that for a self-financed release, and the production is excellent. To be true, my only regret is not really one: for god’s sake, my hears would love to have 70 minutes instead of 16!
I sincerely wish them to find a label quickly which will be able to support their talent. Once this step will be done, the guys can expect me to Spam them every day with questions about the release of the album. Friendly readers, you know what you have to do, don’t you?
- By "Inner Self"

Just like Mötorhead, Warattah proves us that you can make a lot of noise with only three persons. There’s nothing more needed to release a demo full of promises and ambition. Defining themselves as a metal-band at first place, this trio is serving a music that is difficult to describe. I already see your eyes opening wide, but don’t fear ; it is not a dark project difficult to understand, it’s only a steamroller that is picking here and there to bring us the best of Metal.

Sure, in the music of Warattah there are no frills, we are going straight to the point : explosion of the cervical vertebrae !!!!! It is not derogatory but the music of the band is quite simple, but extremely efficient. Anyway, these guys know their job, and they’re doing it right. The riffs are ultra-powerful, intelligently composed and very well executed. The four titles on this demo are ringing the bells of Metal and make us feel like going further than this. The intent vocals are perfect for the furious songs. Even the parts with a clean, softer voice on « Skulls in a River Beds » sound good and especially fit the atmosphere of this track. A lot of bands are making abuse of this effect, but here, it fits because it is done with taste. For the ones who are looking for a light of respite, your only chance is to switch off your CD Player… I think that « compact » is a good qualifying word for this « disc », or maybe it should be “efficient”… ?
The sound is fat as it ought to be and is giving to Warattah every reasons to hope for the best in the future. Let’s hope that it will be just as good for an album.
Excellent first demo that opens very good perspectives for the following of the events. With so much power, the band has to kick ass live and I really feel like seeing it with my own eyes !!!!!!
- By "Julien"

REVIEW : THRASHOCORE

Warattah
Distorsion (Démo)2006
Auto-production

I am gonna start thinking there is something rotten in the Gironde (beside Alain Juppé or Noël Mamère of course). Why is it always the southwest of France that gets the best bands, shit, they piss me off ?! I’m thinking about Gojira, but also about Jenx, and now: Warattah. Is it the divine wine, the proximity of the soothing huge sea; or is it more prosaically the distance with the stupidity of Paris? Nobody knows. Anyway, Warattah have sent me this 4-tracks demo called Distorsion, a title that fits because we are not dealing here with west-coast-rap or any kind of accordion-dance.

Anyway, after these 4 tracks, I was starting to think that Warratah ain’t so bad …it’s not bad at all !. O.k., let’s not be that stingy…it is very good. The sound already, it is excellent for a demo (except for the cymbals which are sometimes drowning the rest out, but I’m only seeking for the small details), not over-trigged, resolutely powerful and well balanced. With "Fits of rage", we are entering the rough work at once : syncopated and technical drums, a pleasant bass guitar and heavy guitars. The more it evolves, the more I have the feeling that I am dealing with an avatar (in the positive meaning of it) of Atheist, but more modern; or of Sybreed but less electronic; or of an alternative version of Hacride, but with a more thrashy touch.
A confirmed feeling right after "Song to a close friend", except for the fact that the technical side is generously balanced by the general groove of the song, which spares us from listening to a Master class exhibition sponsored by Yamaha or Ibanez; but to a really varied and dynamic track (a special note for the bridge in this song, with a really interesting bass/guitar coordination). We go to a more « Meshuggan » dimension (if I may say it like this) with "Skulls in a river beds", with its pachydermic and polyphonic (these two words are a guaranteed success at Scrabble) rhythm section embellished by a simple, tuneful chorus, but devilishly cool. At last, the demo ends with "The Void", a more direct and square song, with small thrash parts and even one or two blast-beats that will tear your eardrums apart, like grind-nuggets.

I will be honest, it is not often that a demo gets my full and unconditional support, but I have to admit: it is the case now. (Normally, I ask money to write nice words about unknown bands).
Warattah: a name to be followed. In the same way, that shouldn’t be too difficult…

$am
October,31 2006

- By "Sam"

KILLING SONGS :
Skulls In A River Beds
Song To A Close Friend

NOTE :
15.5 / 20


Here is some good smashing metal from Bordeaux! Extremely discreet about their origins, this trio is setting your CD player on fire 4 titles long. In order to describe this first demo « Distortion », we could talk about metal-core or maybe power-thrash-metal. The fact remains that the trio is using a high instrumental technique, mainly built on direct and aggressive riffs, non-repetitive, and some off-hand rhythmical breaks. For such a young band, we can praise the natural power and maturity that are boiling out of the compositions. While keeping a homogeneous guiding line, Warattah’s music seems to be inspired from different horizons such as the American HxH Scene (Skulls In A River Beds) or maybe the enraged European thrash (Song To A Close Friend). They might be only three, but the power and energy are bursting out « Distortion » and will let more than one of us flabbergasted.
Easily switching between mid tempo and elevated rhythms ,this disc is breathing and is to be listened to with attention, due to the importance of the richness of the riffs and the many rhythmical breaks. The quality of the sound is very good. (with only 4 months to mix for 4 titles), and the vocals are taking their advantage with a marked shade of thrash, surfing on the riffs and breaks to inspire the compositions with intensity. So, nothing much to say anymore, except that the fans of this style will be very pleased with this really promising debut. Without a doubt, the power of Warattah is increasing tenfold on stage.
- By Count D