Review: Alterbeast - Immortal (2014)

 Artist: Alterbeast

Album: Immortal

Genre: Technical Death Metal

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Tracklist:

1.     Flesh Bound Text

2.     Of Decimus Divine

3.     Vile Remnants

4.     Ancient’s Retribution

5.     Mutilated Marvel

6.     Into Oblivion

7.     Serpentspire

8.     Throne of Maggots

Review:

Alterbeast recently released their debut full-length album Immortal. This technical death metal act managed to stay under my radar until somewhat recently. However, after hearing their single “Flesh Bound Text” the album became highly anticipated for me. A somewhat dramatic and theatrical opening will guide the listener from the first song, “Flesh Bound Text”, into an on going sonic assault. Personally, I found this album comparable to past releases from bands such as Beneath the Massacre and Rings of Saturn in terms of technicality. However, this album takes “tech-death” into another realm by combining extremely catchy riffs, old school death-metal sounding solos, and brutal harmonizing in a unique way. It’s always great to hear bands that enjoy going beyond what is originally prescribed by their genre, “tech-death” here, and incorporate solid transitions that may be less technical for the sake of helping a song flow. To me this demonstrates another level of song writing that is commonly over looked in many technical acts. Needless to say, I’m really glad to have another amazing North American release this year and hopefully it results in being able to see them live in the near future. Go out and support these guys!

9/10

(Does 10/10 exist?)

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written by Vinny Medina

Review: Beneath - The Barren Throne (2014)

Artist: Beneath

Album: The Barren Throne

Genre: Melodic Death Metal/Technical Death Metal

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Tracklist:

01 Depleted Kingdom
02 Chalice
03 Barren Throne
04 Putrid Seed Of Affection
05 Iron Jaw
06 Sovereign Carnal Passion
07 Sky Burial
08 Veil Of Mercy
09 Mass Extinction Codex
10 Storm Drainer
11 Unearthed

Review:

I just got The Barren Throne a few days ago and am already on my 4th listen; just amazing. This album is brooding and dark. While I liked their debut, Enslaved by Fear, they really stepped it up. The beginning track, Depleted Kingdom, starts out with a melancholy acoustic passage and then gets intense. Full of hooks and catchy riffs that are really memorable, their sophomore effort is not something you want to pass on. It’s definitely my favorite “true” Death Metal release so far this year. The vocals are what you’d usually expect from a death metal release, but with a bit more clarity. This album has a bit of enjoyable tribal drumming that seems to have been left out of metal in recent years. There are a few slow sludgy parts that remind me of good slam without the burp vocals, which is really nice and refreshing. The final track, Unearthed, sounds like you are digging up a grave with the last riff just pummeling the listener with a shovel. Pick this album up if it fits your tastes, you won’t regret it.

8.5/10

(I would have enjoyed a few more sludgy parts and a couple more clean breaks like in Chalice)

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written by Derek Knapp

 

Review: Archspire - The Lucid Collective (2014)

Artist: Archspire

Album: The Lucid Collective

Genre: Technical Death Metal

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Tracklist: 

1. Lucid Collective Somnambulation
2. Scream Feeding
3. The Plague Of AM
4. Fathom Infinite Depth
5. Join Us Beyond
6. Seven Crowns And The Oblivion Chain
7. Kairos Chamber
8. Spontaneous Generation

 

Review:

Welcome to the world of technical death metal with your hosts, Archspire. Canada breeds a rare type of human, mutants perhaps, whose genetics are specifically altered to allow them to perform the most insane wizardry on all instruments. Ok, so I made that up, but it makes sense. Dean Lamb and Tobi Morelli completely shred the shit out of the fret boards; I’m surprised they don’t get splinters. Jaron Evil’s bass work seems to hit all the notes the guitarists don’t while still staying amazingly relevant and high up in the mix (which I really enjoy. I hate when the bassist is drowned out). While the guitar/bass work is definitely otherworldly, what stands out here is the drumming and vocals. Spencer Prewett is definitely a mutant behind the kit; I’m not even sure how he can play a whole set at such breakneck speeds. His playing/precision is amazing, subjectively the best drummer of all time. Where do I start with the vocals? Oli Peters is a machine. They follow the drumming that’s for sure, very schizophrenic sounding. A good analogy would be the Busta Rhymes of metal:  BREAK YA FUCKN NECK! While I really, really enjoy this album, it is not for the faint of heart, very abrasive and technical, while still being somewhat melodic. Not sure I can pick a favorite track because there are so many good parts.

9/10
(I wish there were a few more slow parts to compliment the speed)

 

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written by Derek Knapp

The Seer – Prologue (2014)

The Seer

Album:  Prologue

Genre:  Extreme Symphonic/Progressive Death Metal

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Track Listing:

1. Principium

2. The Fall

3. Deviant

4. Pariah

5. Embrace Pestilence

6. Condemnation

7. Timeless

8. Eternal Cataclysm

9. Abhorrence

10. The Plague

11. Wasteland

Download (320kbps)

Support:  Bandcamp ($10)

Preview:  “Eternal Cataclysm” / “Embrace Pestilence”

Not too shabby for my first post in over a month, huh?  This is EASILY one of the best albums of the entire year, and they’re from (where else?) Australia!  I’ve been waiting years for a full length from these guys, and it does NOT disappoint.

They’re kind of like Shade Empire but with muuuuuuch more extreme death metal influences.  Fucking outstanding.

Prominence - Objective Truth (2014)

Artist: Prominence

Album: Objective Truth

Genre: Progressive Metalcore/Djent

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Tracklist:

1. TAB

2. Woebegone

3. Ambivalence

4. Retake

5. Inevitable Misery

 

Stream and Download (NYP) via Bandcamp 

 

 

Really good stuff!!!

 

little hint: Compilation^^

A Devastating Truth - Visionaries (2014)

Artist: A Devastating Truth

Album: Visionaries

Genre: Melodic Deathcore/Groove

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Tracklist:

1. Obscure Forces

2. Barriers

3. Supression

4. Mirrors;Encounters (feat. Keith Dick)

Stream and Download (NYP) via Bandcamp

Okay, this is really, really, REALLY good. Very riff-orientated and groovy Deathcore, reminds me a lot of Knights Of The Abyss or Through The Eyes Of The Dead!

By The Thousand - By The Thousand (2014)

Artist: By The Thousand

Album: By The Thousand

Genre: Progressive Metalcore/Groove

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Tracklist:

1. Cotyledon

2. Theopany

3. Inculcate

4. R-Complex

5. Redesign

Stream and Download (NYP) via Bandcamp

Very cool "Australian-sounding" Prog Metalcore. Nothing new here, but very solid!

Spiral - Cloud Kingdoms (2014)

Spiral
Album: Cloud Kingdoms
Genre: Post/Progressive Rock
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Track Listing:
1. Golden Afternoon
2. Black Dwarf
3. Cloud Kingdoms
4. Malleus Maleficarum
5. Chasing Tails
6. Moscow
7. Sweet And Sour
8. Eris
9. Raw
10. Knives And Affection
11. Maybe We Could Become Giants

Bandcamp (21 PLN) (It's about $7)
Preview: "Sweet And Sour"

This album covers so much ground. It moves flawlessly from chill Tycho-esque electronic elements, to beautifully atmospheric post rock sections, to prog-y 7 string riffage. This is fronted, all the while, by one of the most amazing female voices I've heard in a long while. This will be on my album of the year list, and if you skip over this post I just don't know what is wrong with you.

Save Us From The Archon - Thereafter (2014)

Save Us From The Archon
Album: Thereafter
Genre: Instrumental/Progressive/Math/Music
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Track Listing:
1. I. You don't recall our house near the ocean;
2. swallowed by the waves, unable to sleep when
3. eventually, unconsciously
4. you know everything ends, and everyone leaves.
5. (elapse)
6. II. Only that house in my conscience
7. stays under the tides,
8. awake and regretful,
9. informed of the reality left there in the after.

Bandcamp ($5)
Support (Bigcartel)
Preview: "you know everything ends, and everyone leaves."

This album completely lives up to the amazing level of musicianship I anticipated it holding. This is sheer beauty and perfection in music.

Distant Signals - Resonance (2014)

Distant Signals
Album: Resonance
Genre: Progressive Metal/Instrumental
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Track Listing:
1. Breakfast Toast
2. Motion
3. Julia
4. Resonance

Bandcamp (NYP)
Preview: "Breakfast Toast" (Full ep stream)

Some very pretty, atmospheric instrumental stuff right here.

Miroist - Curve (2014)

Artist: Miroist

Album: Curve

Genre: Djent/Progressive/Instrumentral/Ambient

1. Hope For A Long Free Mean Path

2. Lumen Suum Reiecta

3. 29%

4. It Seemed So Distant

5. The Closing Of Your Eye

6. Are We Leaden Yet

7. And Symmetry Has Finally Broken Us

8. There Is Still Time

9. An Arcsecond Among Pioneer's

10. ... It Always Was

Download: Bandcamp(NYP)

Support: Bandcamp

 

This is a really really good instrumental piece. So many feels, great guitar, killer ambient feels, everything about this is awesome. It's free on bandcamp, but it's worth so much more, I highly recommend this if your into the prog/djent scene.

 

State of Serenity - Foundations (2013)

State Of Serenity
Album: Foundations
Genre: Progressive Metalcore/Instrumental
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Track Listing:
1. Set In Motion
2. Foundations (Ft. Tim Henson)
3. Outlands
4. Eternal Gate

Bandcamp (£3)
Preview: Foundations (Ft. Tim Henson)

Have some progressive metalcore without a bunch of djenting going on everywhere. This EP is very progressive and has beautiful melodies everywhere. Plus Tim Henson (Polyphia) slays on the preview track. Give it a go!

Intraneum - Perfection (2014)

Artist: Intraneum

Album: Perfection

Genre: Technical Deathcore

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Tracklist:

1. Prelude

2. Perfection

3. Complex Kind

4. Meltdown

Stream and Download (via Bandcamp)

Very surprising stuff! Some awesome catchy riffs and great ideas in there, very promising and young band from Poland!

The Feather Of Ma'at - The Feather Of Ma'at (2014)

 

Artist: The Feather Of Ma'at

Album: The Feather Of Ma'at

Genre: Arabic/Djent/Progressive/Instrumental

1. Ma'at

2. Lunaria Solaris

3. Gorlath of the Hammadas

4. Luxor

5. Theme of the Lost Sun

6. Ma'at pt.2

7. The Rainbow Orb

8. The Halo Gem

9. The Philosopher Stone

10. S-Pheroza

11. Supra Space

Support: Bandcamp($9.72)

So this little gem is awesome. Killer Arabic, tones, great feels, just all around put together very well. This is a one man band from germany with only 27 likes on Facebook. I know it's kind of expensive, but it's worth every penny. Give it a like on Facebook, download it, and enjoy. 

Rex - Demo (2012)

Rex
Album: Demo
Genre: Beatdown
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Track Listing:
1. Outbreak
2. In Pursuit
3. Dolemite
4. Counterfeit
5. Collapse

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Preview: "In Pursuit"

Pissed and in your face about it. Break something.

Point Blank - Life Crisis (2014)

Point Blank
Album: Life Crisis
Genre: Hardcore/Kill
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Track Listing:
1. Intro
2. True Talk
3. Cold Embers
4. Perdition
5. Drown
6. Life Crisis
7. Lie Of Perception

Bandcamp (NYP)
Preview

Saw this band live yesterday (see preview video) (the preview video is live, if you want to hear recordings go to the Bandcamp link) and they changed my perception of hard as fuck. Get ignorant.

Aghost - Odyssey (2014)

Artist: Aghost

Album: Odyssey

Genre: Progressive Metalcore/Djent

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Tracklist:

1. Alignments

2. Susurrus

3. Obscure Summit

4. Celestial

5. Solitude

6. Mosaic

7. Corroboration

8. Oneiroi

 

Stream and Download (Name Your Price) via Bandcamp 

 

Solid stuff from Germany, The vocals aren´t that good, but some nice ideas.