THE BISCUIT MERCHANT - Victorious (Track Premiere)

Written by: The Administrator

When approaching a new track from (the alluringly monikered) The Biscuit Merchant, you can be certain about one thing: the delineations between subgenres are gonna get murky. Where, you may wonder, does death begin and thrash end? How many progressive tendencies can you cram into a track before it becomes clearly identifiable as prog metal? How many vocal stylings can one vocalist muster? Much to consider.

The Biscuit Merchant's discography at large--encompassed within a multi-album megaproject that will eventually involve an album for every letter of the alphabet--makes for an intriguing listen. While I must admit that I'm not familiar with the entirely oeuvre, I have been a big fan of what I've heard. The Biscuit Merchant has a knack for balancing engaging groove with the kind of naturally flexible songwriting that allows unexpected inclusions to feel firmly grounded rather than mere gimmicks. I particularly enjoy the vocals, which are quite diverse, ranging from squelchy growls to snarling cleans and back again with an underhyped grace.

We're excited to premiere here today a forthcoming single from The Biscuit Merchant's forthcoming new album. The track is called "Victorious." The album is called Tempora, and will be released in May of this year. Give "Victorious" a listen below, and, as always, we'll meet ye on the other side!

---

"Victorious" is energetic and boisterous, yet feels rooted by the churning crunch of that mighty riff. This is the kind of chunky groove that practically forces the listener into a comfortable head-nodding sneer. It's menacing and tough, but also quite dynamic, with the later addition of acrobatic leads heightening the sense of drama. Speaking of dynamism, I really enjoy the aforementioned vocals range--the abrupt changes in styles make the track feel well-populated, and keeps things feeling fresh across the board. The snarls are present and powerful, and contrast wonderfully with the cleans. And, should that not be exciting enough, "Victorious" is built around a climactic heaving breakdown. From a physical standpoint, the buildup and subsequent wave feels incredible to react to. In the world of heavy music, I'm pretty sure that's the best compliment I can issue.  

Recounting the creation of a universe-destroying megaweapon, there's a narrative intrigue and expansiveness at play on "Victorious." While press material does indicate some details regarding the general storyline, I'm excited to hear this track in the context of the bigger picture, where the stakes and repercussions are fully realized. This track feels like a rallying cry, but it also presents significant foreshadowing. After all, one does not simply claim victory without encountering a few hurdles in acts II and III.

More details regarding Tempora are forthcoming, but in the meantime, I highly recommend giving "Victorious" some well-deserved love! I also recommend diving into that plentiful back catalog. I will be doing so myself in short order.

---

The Biscuit Merchant can be found:
Bandcamp
Facebook
Homepage