The Sacramento, California band Fate formed in 2003 when its members were still in middle school. Five years later they've solidified their lineup, signed with Metal Blade Records and are releasing their debut.
Vultures blends metalcore with death and thrash. Some songs are very technical and showcase excellent guitar work from Kyle Fishman and Brice Vuson. Other tracks are groovier with a thrash vibe and more standout guitars. Fate doesn't overdo the breakdowns, which is a wise decision.
While their musicianship is good, the songwriting has a ways to go. The songs are reasonably diverse, but don't really stand out as being memorable or overly catchy. Still, Vultures is a promising debut, and as the band grows and improves their songwriting they could be a force in the metalcore/deathcore genre.
(released April 29, 2008 on Metal Blade Records)
