Review Summary: The future of death metal...let's hope it's not.
The Faceless’
Akeldama title track constitutes both the album's finest moment and its biggest musical statement: a six minute instrumental, in which the bands plays a pretty good jam, breaking away from the album's monotony and lack of ideas. Guitarists Michael Keene and Steve Jones break loose on here and try some different ideas, bassist Brandon Giffin shines a little, drummer Nick Pierce brings some color to the opaque picture, and vocalist Derek probably drinks some beer. That is it.
Akeldama is incapable of developing its scarce musical ideas. Instead, they are scattered throughout the record, more in the form of musical traits, than in actual songwriting. You are more likely to remember "An Autopsy" kind of catchy electronic effect throw in; on “Pestilence” the Patton-esque vocals in the middle; on “Oracle of the Onslaught" the opening riff; on "Hypocrisy" the electronic-sounding guitar parts; and so on.
It is not that the riffs are not technical or well executed: it is more that those are their sole attributes. The songs themselves are uninteresting and do not flow well. The Faceless’ ideas of song evolvement are artificial breakdowns, electronic gimmicks and fast solos. “Leica”, for instance, has these complex guitar parts for the first three minutes and a half, but somehow, nothing really happens: it gets tiring and then, the breakdown. The song goes nowhere; next comes a short electronic passage and lastly, the showy solo. You could make a similar case for every song on here. Really, the band is more concerned over keeping the intensity and poking at you these little cool riffs and leads they came up with than over nurturing and polishing the songs.
On top of that, music also comes out as predictable. Opener "An Autopsy" foresees all you will find on the album: technical yet lifeless riffs, breakdowns in replacement of real dynamics, fast drumming, electronic gimmicks, some melody, and your mandatory death growls and shrieks. If you like it, you will like the entire album. Very little on
Akeldama’s thirty-three minutes surprises you, the aforementioned title track being the biggest treat.
Akeldama’s disguised witchery is its catchiness, which tinges the dense, tech-death metal sound with accessibility. Songs are easy to the ears, despite the technicality involved. Unfortunately, it does not suffice for a great record. It is not even good. The Faceless finds comfort in this mediocrity, and sadly, they got away with it, which is rarely a good thing for improving next time.
They are not the first band to come up with a dreadful debut and rise from their ashes to make impressive follow-ups, so let us hope they learned something.
1.5/5
