"We Are Always Alone" stands as a masterpiece that this band's work is to be measured against. Up to this point, they have not met that head-on, but played around with more extreme and experimental sounds at various genre crossroads in heavy music. Grindcore being one of the more frequent ones, hardcore is another more notable sonic flavor they have painted their compositions with. This album finds them opening their arsenal to include a greater range of sounds, while tightening the songwriting to make songs that are digestible to broader metal audiences without compromising their unsettling, confrontational style. The opening track is more of a David Lynchian guitar piece that sets the stage before they launch into a darker and more melodic mood while still packing a punch that hits more like sludge.
"Heaven's Gate" is more explosive, but anchored by a beefy bassline. Ambience still haunts the corners of the song, creating dynamics rather than just bashing your ears out. "Under Siege" has more hardcore in its punk-driven charge. They show you can be hooked into music this abrasive by providing hooks even amid the unhinged fury. The vocals bark with purpose. The songs have something to say. The album is well broken up with the more experimental forays into things falling outside of the bounds of metal, breaking it up and giving the listener room to breathe. "Ectasy' was one of the lead singles, so I was prepared for its brand of weird that draws from 90s alternative while not forsaking the rough edges.
"Death From Above" takes a turn down a darker alley. More metallic stomps accent the shadows here. The vocals drop into a more resonant death-metal growl. "God Will Never Hear Me" is another beautifully brooding song that is not dark in a post-punk or goth manner, but effective at introspective self-loathing. The counterpoint is a more dissonant, sludged-out, clanging. A more unexpected direction is Texas rapper Slim Guerilla appearing on "Chamber of Misery." At only a minute, it's more of a bizarre interlude.
The riff that opens "Total Black" might be the most pleasing to more mainstream metal. The song grooves in its own way, even when the riff drops out to create space. "Object of Pain" is less intense and almost mroe like Crippling Alcoholism in how it slithers over ashtrays and empty liquor bottles. They close the album with the more in-your-face explosion of "The Last Judgement" that opens up on the verse, so give the vocals room to be more than an afterthought. These guys once again show that you can make one of the heaviest albums going this year without having to skimp on hooks to keep you engaged in the song. It's not too experimental; your ears are just boring. I'll give this one a 10, not even Neurosis and Converge took this many chances.
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