Truth be told I never gave these guys much of a chance, though was never really impressed by what I heard from them in passing. This marks the first time they have been reviewed here. There are more melodic elements slithering under the burly exterior of their brand of death metal. Like most bands of this sort when they indulge the need for speed things feel rushed and lose the groove. To their credit for all the technical wonderment and guitar solos burst from the seams of these songs, they stick to cramming them into around four to five minutes rather than long sprawling progressive indulgences. The second song does not do this in a manner that kept my attention like the opening track.
This album is well produced, I appreciate the effect on the vocals. Everything is multitracked to create a massive sound that hits you. They are certainly students of Death's more progressive later years. They indulge younger fans in something closer to metal-core with "The Sun Gave Me Ashes So I Sought Out the Moon". This at least has more groove when they are not racing along rubbery riffs. "Into the Crystalline Crypts" is not as compelling. It weaves and winds with great execution, but does not connect with me in the same way a band like Cattle Decapitation does. Perhaps everything is dialed in so perfectly that it feels sterile. "A Sorrow Filled Moon" does not bob and weave in the same way taking a more deliberate approach that gives things more room to breathe.
They pound into "the Agony Seeping Storm" with plenty of authority, which is true to what they do as a band. Does it cover ground that really sets them apart from other bands? Not really. Perhaps the reason this sort of thing does not click with me is that it doesn't feel heavy to my ears because it is too busy. Morbid Angel is more crushing even on their lackluster material. Carcass is a better balance of the two. This is however well executed and created in a pristine manner I will give this an 8.This drops on Metal Blade Febuary 23rd.
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