Review Summary: Melodic Death metal finally done right.
Melodic Death Metal nowadays has been labeled as stereotypical
verse-chorus-verse with clean vocals dominating the chorus with an occasional solo here and there ever since In Flames took their “sell-out” route. Before the Dawn’s formula amplifies that stereotype, except they switched the harsh and clean vocals around in the verses and choruses. Sometimes they might do both types of vocals and lair it over each other for the chorus. Yet, they were able to maintain some sort of originality consistently with every release by adding gothic elements within their music, and maintaining the atmosphere brought from the gothic elements. Back in 2008 with
Soundscape of Silence we see Before the Dawn start to fuse more melodic guitar riffs into their formula that finally gave Before the Dawn the edge that they can call their own sound along with the label of Melodic Death Metal that doesn’t seem too cliché. In the beginning of 2011 they carried out that new sound and released
Deathstar Rising. In June of that year we see a mutual departure of their drummer and bass player/clean vocalist based on musical differences.
One of the departures was Lars Eikind, the bass player/clean vocalist who helped signify Before the Dawn’s sound with his singing. The direction of the band itself was questionable. Were they going to get a new clean vocalist? After being asked all sorts of questions, the main man behind Before the Dawn, Tuomas Saukkonen, confirmed that the band itself will carry on without a clean vocalist position within their new lineup, and that the band’s new sound will be straight up Melodic Death Metal.
In
Rise of the Phoenix we finally see a band show off their potential being a Melodic Death Metal power house with this release, and expanding their sound they developed back in 2008 whilst dropping clean vocals entirely. It all begins with Tuomas’s song writing mature from what it used to be, which has spread across his original horizon. From haunting acoustics, vicious vocals, guitar melodies that diversify songs from one and another, the improvement of guitar solos, the drum sections are also improving, along with the bass’s audibility. Hell, there’s even a Zakk Wylde influenced guitar riff. Overall,
Rise of the Phoenix is an excellent album worth the listen by any fan of Before the Dawn, or general fans of melodic death metal done right.
As a side note there’s a bonus track entitled “Unbreakable (2012),” all it is a re-recorded version of “Unbreakable” from their debut,
My Darkness. Surprisingly enough this re-recorded song is worth the listen, considering that usually when songs are re-recorded they sound like *** for whatever reason. But, this case we see an overall superb performance from the band compared to the original. The other bonus track that’s worth mentioning is “Deliverance.” Personally, it would’ve been an excellent album closer if it was within the original track listing. So check those two out if you don’t get it within your download, stream, or physical purchase.
