The bandname Relentless is not quite new in the world of heavy music, seen as there's at least already 3 other bands with that name, 2 of which also coming from the US, from whence this fourth one comes. Now the name's been used for bands with somewhat different musical flavouring, going from “simple” Heavy Metal (the band from Ripon, Wisconsin, which started in 1993 but has since long gone) to Melodic Thrash Metal (the band from Houston, Texas, started 1998 and still active) and even brutal Death Metal/ Grindcore (the Swedish band by the same name)...but thís Relentless differentiates itself from all those by playing a nice mixture of Heavy and Doom Metal...and being fronted by female singer Carlee Jackson!
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, the band also comprises a known entity in lead guitarist Tim Pearson, formerly of Mordrid and, more importantly, from Scythe (he is at this moment, also active with the band Deathcult). Others in the band include former Mordrid & Degradation bassist John Usher, currently also from They Die Screaming, band in which rhythm guitarist Justin Clark is also active, and drummer Dan Klein (whose other currently active bands include Cryptic Fog, Fin, and Nocturne). The quintet got together somewhere in 2012, and spent their time together well, recording their debut full-length over several sessions in March and April of 2013, mastering the whole in September of last, at Chicago's own Arcane Studio. I'm not certain how things went on from that. I happen to know that two songs from those sessions (namely the tracks “Ave Noctem” and “The Test Of Time”) were already put online for people to listen to...so there's a good possibility that Do Or Die Records noticed the band that way and offered to release the band's album right then, eh?
You'll find the band brings a nice tapestry of guitar work (with occasionally exciting lead guitar) on a steady basis, and with some rather nice female vocals. Nice in a way that they dó convey the Doom atmosphere without bringing too much of a melancholic feel....ach, you need to hear it to fully understand what I mean here! Anyway, you càn enjoy the complete album, ànd those two songs which the band put online beforehand (and which are nót featured on the album) via (http://) doordierecords.bandcamp.com (for the additional tracks, simply scroll down the page toward the “discography” part). If that don't work out for you too well, you can also go check the two album tracks posted in the “Band Profile” section at (www.) facebook.com/Relentless! You'll find the material thoroughly enjoyable, indeed!