Death is June - White Stones : "Kuarahy"

Opeth's bassist missed death metal so started this side project.He mans not only bass put also the guitars here. "Worms" is much better than the first song. The first song is not bad it is like warmed over early Opeth or Bloodbath. There is more of a groove to "Worms". It is just more fun . What I like about this album is the dynamic variance. It deviates from the death metal tropes I am constantly complaining about when it comes to the genre. Is there rock n roll to "Drowned in Time" ? Yes and that is what makes it great. They know the death metal rules, use them while bringing other things to the party. As the album progresses it no longer is just looking back at what Opeth used to do , but finds these songs with an identity of their own.

However once they find their sweet spot they hang onto it going into "the One".  It almost sounds to much like the previous song to me. The double bass is very sick. As it should be since this is death metal. Have way into the song things do change, but I expect more after what we have gotten so far. They deliever with a more rock n roll swagger on "Guyra'. For a bass player this guy is a pretty killer guitarist . One thing cool about this album is it manages to blend prog with death metal without losing any of the balls. Aside from the slight groove and more abundant atmosphere there is a more straight forward approach on " Ashes". It is however more angular and dissonant than the bulk of the songs so far, so straight forward in how that applies to this album.

The more prog leaning ways of Opeth come into play on "Infected Soul". It has that darker creepy sound they used to have pre Blackwater Park. There is a pretty cool rifs that offsets some of the more rock n roll parts. It's not that the rock n roll parts are not cool, they are I just needed this to circle a darker direction in order to retain my interest.They dig into more of a metallic attack while still dazzling you with guitars on the more aggressive "Taste of Blood". It took a couple of listens before it's groove really clicked with me. There is an outro ditty, but I am not countring it for the purpose of this review.  This is an excellent album I will give this one a 9.5 . If you miss death metal Opeth, this is not total nostalgia , but you will appreciate this. Out on Nuclear Blast.