Unless your name is Dethklok, chances are you won't find very much success in the middle east if you're a metal band (never mind a death metal band). For that reason, Omar Al Kilani left his native Jordan (as well as the original variation of Ajdath) for Poland. While I'm not really sure how great the metal scene in Poland is, it's definitely an improvement over the Jordanian metal scene. As luck would hold, Omar would field a new band, recruiting a second guitarist, Daniel, and drummer, Kuba. The three-piece band has had a murky history over the past couple years, but from my understanding, their first recording happens to be Ajdath's debut album. And as far as debut album's go, it is quite a fine effort.
Though only 20 minutes in length (20:34 to be exact), Triangle of Death offers listeners some of the best death metal of 2006. Ajdath's brand of death metal is a rather complicated mix of traditional death metal, thrash, and tech death. Tracks such as The Perfect Race and Triangle of Death are jus two examples of the album's repertoire. High energy offerings, they are both very representative of the album's sound. Chaotic distorted guitars, low guttural grunts, and heavy use of blast beats are present on the musical tendencies of Ajdath, and while this may seem generic and over done, Omar manages to escape such song writing traps by incorporating Middle Eastern influences into his music. Such influences are not as blatant or obvious as, say, Orphaned Land or Nile, but they still part of the band's sound. The two minute instrumental, Before the War, is where Al Kilani makes use of these influences, crafting a calm track which sound like it could have come out of a Prince of Persia game, or something. Ajdath makes use of only clean guitars, and the result is quite beautiful and mysterious. The song also offers listeners a nice change from the brutal sounds off songs like Wraith of Babel and No War No Peace.
To be quite honest, I have few complaints about the album. The major qualm I have with this has to do with the Triangle of Death's production. Though it is quite good and quite appropriate for Ajdath at this stage in its career (especially in terms of guitars), I do find the sound on the drums annoying every so often. While it isn't as disastrous as what can be heard on you know who's St. Anger album, the strange tuning on Kuba's drums rears its head every now and then. Interestingly enough, the sound isn't heard on every track, as No War No Peace shows, and on the few tracks where it can be heard, such as The Perfect Race, it isn't always present or doesn't play a major role in the song's sound. I can cut some slack here, as the band is fairly young, obscure, and has limited access when recording the album, but the sound on the drums does get annoying on occasion.
Overall, Ajdath has themselves an excellent debut album. Though Triangle of Death is at times hampered by poor production on the drums, it is a very worthwhile recording to listen to. Unfortunately, Ajdath will in all likelihood not receive the attention they deserve for this album, which is a shame seeing has the material is such high quality stuff. Fans of death, thrash, tech death, hell even brutal death metal should give Ajdath a chance, as the band combines sounds from each of these (sub) genres. I have high hopes for Ajdath, as Triangle of Death was definitely one of 2006's better debut albums. Definitely check this out if you get the chance.
