Witherscape
The Inheritance


4.0
excellent

Review

by Drew Tyler USER (75 Reviews)
February 7th, 2014 | 31 replies


Release Date: 2013 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A progressive and melodic death metal album that has all the variety and balance one could want, but lacks a distinct direction.

Just when you thought you had heard every musical gem 2013 had to offer the metal community, along came a band called Witherscape. The band is a project of Nightingale frontman Dan Swano. Despite playing progressive rock in Nightingale, Swano has adopted a much heavier style consisting of melodic death metal with progressive elements. The album does a good job mixing the old with the new, so to speak, and despite being essentially a side project, the material is strong enough to stand on it's own.

Notwithstanding it's death metal tag, “The inheritance” isn’t by any means dominated by the genre, and is surprisingly accessible. Nearly each track is extremely melodic and emotionally charged. Song progression showcases a lot of variety as demonstrated by the opener, “Mother of the Soul”. The band seamlessly transitions between dark and broodingly gothic atmospheres that contains acoustic guitar play reminiscent of Opeth, and mid-tempo, heavy riffing. It is this ability to write songs with both styles that makes Witherscape truly stand out, as "The Inheritance" offers material that is if filled with desolation and beauty one minute, and extreme and brutal material filled with rage the next. The vocals change with the instrumentals, with heavy riffing accompanied by hoarse death growling and clean singing blending with acoustic mellow moments. Swano demonstrates good command of both vocal styles and the whole band does a good job of holding the listener’s rapt attention. “The Inheritance” will often surprise listeners with the sheer amount of material crammed into each track, but this is where some listeners may get lost, however, as some songs try to accomplish too much and do not have much direction. Far too often you may find yourself really digging a certain riff or harmony, and right when you thought the band had found their stride, they are pursuing a different direction altogether. Many songs sound as if the band is building towards one final extraordinary climactic point, yet the band unfortunately never quite reaches it.

That being said though, Witherscape is an album that can be digested in many, many ways. The lack of a clear direction is a fine problem to have when you consider the amount of material that is here. This album has the kind of variety you would expect from an Opeth album, and it does a fine job of mixing modern death metal with traditional and progressive influences. It may click on your first listen, or it may take several to fully understand, but one thing that is crystal clear, is that this band deserves way more attention. You can hear the blood, sweat and tears that went into crafting this record, and it gives you a level of appreciation that is rarely found in modern metal.



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user ratings (114)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
ThrashTillDeath94
February 7th 2014


814 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

The opener: Mother of the Soul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K76kXlyJTGU



This needed a review badly.



Voivod
Staff Reviewer
February 7th 2014


10937 Comments


It would be great if you elaborated a bit more about the style of the mellower parts. Are they into '70s (prog) rock for example? Other than that, your review reads well, pos.


One suggestion:

The band transitions between dark and brooding atmospheres that contain acoustic guitar play reminiscent of Opeth, and mid-tempo, heavy riffing seamlessly

The band seamlessly transitions between...[...]

ThrashTillDeath94
February 7th 2014


814 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Suggestion noted and fixed, and thanks for the pos.



I tried to elaborate a bit more on the acoustic moments, but for whatever reason I struggle with it.



Also, have you heard this album yet?

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
February 7th 2014


10937 Comments


Unfortunately, I haven't granted the album a listen yet, so many albums so little time.

ThrashTillDeath94
February 7th 2014


814 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah I know what you mean. I have yet to listen to any 2014 albums for fear that I have missed some good ones from last year.

ResidentNihilist
February 7th 2014


2150 Comments


Decent review prolly will do one with a 3 though. I just don't like this in comparison to what he's done with both Eos and Nightingale.

FrozenVain
February 7th 2014


3043 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Good to see this with a review. Nice job, pos'd.

lalchimiste
March 20th 2014


1131 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Nice review, great album. The production on this is just perfect

Vakarian12
April 30th 2014


4091 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

clean vox sound a lot like akerfeldt

lalchimiste
May 1st 2014


1131 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

what? more like howlin' wolfe meets jim morrison

lalchimiste
May 1st 2014


1131 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

well, not really either

Totengott
May 30th 2014


4252 Comments


Digging this. Heard 2 songs so far, really liking it.

Totengott
May 30th 2014


4252 Comments


Definitely, listening to the other songs now.

Totengott
May 30th 2014


4252 Comments


Oh yeah, sorry. This review is excellent, good job.

ThrashTillDeath94
May 31st 2014


814 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks for reading it.

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
May 31st 2014


12203 Comments


Fantastic album, good review too man

ThrashTillDeath94
May 31st 2014


814 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thank you

NeroCorleone80
May 31st 2014


34618 Comments


"clean vox sound a lot like akerfeldt"

Other way around

emester
November 16th 2014


8271 Comments


Swano absolutely rules on vox here. Love the variety this album has

OmairSh
February 28th 2015


17733 Comments


Guitarwork on Dead for a Day's chorus is so addictive



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