DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present COLTRE’s highly anticipated debut album, To Watch With Hands… To Touch With Eyes, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

COLTRE are a heavy metal band based in London, formed in the summer of 2019 when lead guitarist Daniel Sweed and guitarist/vocalist Marco Stamigna crossed paths at the same university. Bassist Max Graves, who also attended the same university, soon joined the lineup. The trio’s shared passion and creative ideas laid the groundwork for their debut release, the EP Under The Influence.

Between September and November of 2019, COLTRE diligently worked on the EP, initially developed as a four-track mini-album. In December of the same year, they released the single “Crimson Killer.” Under The Influence made its debut in February 2020, initially in a self-released CD format, a true DIY edition. The EP’s success caught the attention of DYING VICTIMS, who sought to collaborate with the band. This collaboration resulted in the re-release of Under The Influence in multiple formats, including an additional track (the song “Fight”), in July. The year 2020 concluded with the addition of Edoardo Mariotti to the lineup, taking on the role of drummer for the band.

With the quartet now complete, COLTRE embarked on the arrangement and development of songs that would ultimately become their debut album, To Watch With Hands… To Touch With Eyes. If the moody metallic majesty of Under The Influence was a portent of things to come, then To Watch With Hands… To Touch With Eyes takes everything to the next level. COLTRE’s charismatic sound is still in place, thankfully – dark ‘n’ mysterious riffs, vigorously galloping rhythms, epic-yet-direct compositions, and the sage-like pipes of Stamigna atop it all – but there’s crucial distinctions here. For one, there’s a crisper sound at play across the LP; the recording’s sharper yet still rustic, perhaps a bit more hard rock in style than the NWOBHM of its predecessor. As such, the band suitably sound even livelier and more locked-in than before, with Mariotti’s many-armed drumming in particular guiding COLTRE to new destinations (and dungeons, and battlefields!). Further, their songwriting still hovers around six minutes per track, but everything feels more compact without losing the latent epicness. Most crucially, there’s a strut and swagger across To Watch With Hands… To Touch With Eyes that’s IMPOSSIBLE to deny, such on the Tubeway Army-spoofing “Friends Aren’t Electric.”

One could still be mistaken for thinking COLTRE were some unearthed relic from the original NWOBHM movement, so hot-rockin’ is their swords-aloft surge, evoking high fantasy and urban grit in equal measure, but most importantly retaining that pivotal rock ‘n’ roll thrust Thin Lizzy largely gifted to that movement. But, with increased dynamic interplay and impossibly stronger songs, To Watch With Hands… To Touch With Eyes wipes the slate clean and casts COLTRE as new “old” monarchs in the making.

Dying Victims Productions

Review

I am excited to get my teeth into the first song Feast of the Outcast. It drifts in with some electronic synth sounds and nice hi-hat patterns before the thundering chug of guitars and pounding drums kick in. Throughout the song the music keeps pace and and the raw energy never disappears. The loving guitars and harmonised melodies that pop in and out are a treat! Marco Stamigna’s vocals are a perfect matched to the music!

To Watch With Hands is set to phase! The track uses big drawn out chords thumping drums and the space of the mix to create nice amount of punch. I love half way through when everything starts to show some power and break through the clouds. A big ol’ barrage of double kick comes right at you before everything returns to crisp 4/4 beat. To me I get this feeling of classic hard rock/ early heavy metal which many of us grew up on and that is refreshing.

Rat Race dances around with a sweet intro that plays with 16th hi hats and harmonised guitars. It is a track that is filled with feelings and rocks around in style. The choruses I love with their squealing guitar licks and slight disco feel from the drumming of Edoardo Mariotti. It bounces along and promises to be a track that will easily get a crowd jumping up and down! Love it!

When The Earth Turns Black gracefully enters with a captivating and sophisticated acoustic melody, accompanied by the subtle undertones of wind’s low rumblings. Soon, a surge of warmth emanates through powerful open chords. As we delve into the core of the composition, a lively tempo takes hold, creating a sensation of sparking riffs and intriguing musical concepts. The unpolished production adds a distinctive charm to Coltre’s music, emphasising its raw essence. The dynamic ride work and well-placed backing vocals contribute to the overall excellence of this hard rocking, kickass track.

Friends Aren’t Electric is a prime example of how Coltre’s music sounds like as if it has been lifted straight out the peaks of the 70s classic rock era. The bass is a great driving force behind this highly textured piece of pounding rock. I love every moment from the grooving tom patterns of the intro to the funky bass breakdown and sweet singing rings of the solo. Even the light double kick work works perfectly and the choruses reign high!

Through The Looking Glass is next up and what a great little track! As soon as it started its beautifully loving intro caught my attention. A slower pace to begin with the harmonised guitar riffs kissing your ear canals. It has this kind of sweet uplifting feel to it that is warmly welcome! And then in true Coltre style, things pick up and the tasty riffs arrive. Marco and Daniel really know how to write tantalising melodies that instantly grab your attention and get you hooked!

Chimes and a quite little breakdown come midway before things are little up! The solo section is simply stunning. Taking you beyond the clouds up into the heavens! It is intricate, scaling and pure magic!

Temptress storms along destroying anything in its way. Full of thunderous riffs that rip and roar combined with pounding drum lines and little booming bass lines from Max, Temptress is an upbeat track that is exciting and full of interesting ideas. Marco Stamigna’s unique vocals once again lead the full charge topping off a great track!

Oblivion concludes what has been one hell of an album. The track starts of with delicate, dreamy, acoustic melodies leading into slower heartfelt guitar chords. It is always great to see an album that is not just pedal to the metal but mixes things up with slower numbers. And Coltre show of a perfect example of this. It is a beautiful track and I especially love the little breakdown before the electrifying solo kicks in. What a way to end an album!

Conclusion

“To Watch With Hands… To Touch With Eyes” simply blew me away. If you need to feed your mind with music that combines 70’s hard rock influences with Nwothm then this is for you! Great compositions full of mystery and magic that will have you locked in a trance is the best way I can describe Coltre’s latest work of art! Go and listen to these guys now!

The Nwothm Score: 10/10