This 5-headed metal-machine from Haarlem (The Netherlands) produces modern metal. Since the foundation State of Negation has played over 80 shows and 3 festivals. One show was a big boost in their career because they played as an opener for Suicide Silence in the Patronaat venue in Haarlem (The Netherlands). Since then they we're almost forced to put out a album and they did in 2012. This album is called Project Payback. After the release, State of Negation played many venues to promote their album, which lead to their second release in November 2013. This 5-song-album in called District Unknown.

 

The title song 'District Unknowns' starts with a part from the movie Lord of War. After this recognizable quote from Nicholas Cage the madness begins with almost the same as their previous record, first a guitar riff and then a skullbreaking scream from Casper (singer). They say that their style is a mix of Machine Head/Trivium and Pantera. They're style is very catchy but still very unique in its own way.

 

Second song is called 'Done My Own'. Starts off with a fast riff which is more of a riff that you find in the middle of a song but State Of Negation still finds a way to make it work. The second riff is not really my thing but nonetheless it isn't a bad riff. It doesn't fit in the song in my opinion. But in the middle of the song there is a massive breakdown which I really like. In that breakdown I hear the Casper (singer) that I know of the previous EP 'Project Payback'.

Overall not the best song but State Of Negation is full of surprises through their songs.

The next song is 'Gunslinger' and it is my favourite song of the EP. The almost hardcore punk vibe combined with their own music style is a real pleasure to my ears. After listening to the song for a few times I find myself screaming GUNSLINGER a few times throughout the song. The song has a massive mosh-pit vibe to it and after seeing them live you know that they will cause a mosh-pit.

 

'Thou Shall Bleed' is the 4th song on the EP. In this song the many styles that State Of Negation combines really comes out, but Casper uses many pig-squeels (which he does perfectly) in this song and also during the heavy breakdown that pops up in the song. I really like the pace-changing during the song. It fits the song good along with the awesome solo. With this song you really notice the metalcore aspect in their mix of many genres that they play.

 

And there is the final song of the EP, it's called 'Derealize'. The most metalcore song on this EP I would say, but in my opinion State Of Negation isn't a metalcore band but a modern metal band. A very good song to end this beautiful EP. The professionalism is outstanding for such a young but experienced band and I hope that they keep making this kind of music because The Netherlands need a new international know metal band that plays the major festivals like Wacken/Graspop.

 

District Unknown is a good/strong statement to the (Dutch) metal community that there is a band that comes to kick many asses and cause many mosh-pits. But it still gives me the feeling that the band is still searching for their main genre that they are going to play. 8.5 out of 10