With an aggressive styling, and creativity to spare, this promises to be a group of up-and-comers to be reckoned with. Beginning with “Hell is Empty”, the band quickly establishes the groundwork with guitar tension and pounding drum work. After a quick introduction, the power seems to kick on with intricate guitar work and blast beat drumming. The vocals are deep and sit seamlessly in the rest of the sound. Transitions in rhythm and intricacy don’t allow the tempo to drop at all until roughly three minutes in. A haunting and dissonant breakdown work the rest of the track to its end. “Bite the Hand That Feeds” picks up with incredible dual guitar tones working through a very exotic mode, which is quickly dropped in favor of blast beat driven tones again. Vocals drive away with what still seems to be a signature low scream, leaving their unique mark in the track. This track is the first to set aside time for some guitar leads, which give a gnarly speed clinic while still allowing the room to appreciate the track underneath. After some quick whammy work from the leads, the track picks up and changes again between unreal fanned kick and slower and more punchy guitar work.
My personal favorite take away is “We Built the Sky”, a pseudo title track. Walking through all of the crunchy guitar, with octave overtones and a fantastic bounce, is a joy with this one. The vocals seem to move with a tempo that gives them a very instrumental experience here. I think there is a lot to be said when a vocalist can provide their own layer of almost percussion with their emphasis. This this track also has lead guitar elements, but much more modest and keeping with the feel than the former could have. The overall delivery of this song, in all of its segments, did not seem to miss a beat or opportunity. All of that is accomplished without being terribly technical or flashy, which can take away from the overall delivery. Also not to be missed in this album is “Forbidden Gateways”, with attack and attitude keeping in line with the rest of the album. The transitions in this track set it apart for me as one to be remembered. There is logic in every movement. Even with every independent part of the track moving to its own beat, it has a wonderful cohesiveness about it that deserves a “hats off” in the writing process.
This band is off to a powerful start with this as their debut album. No element is out of place or superfluous. Seven tracks seems like a small taste of what is to come of this band, and I very much look forward to more of their work. This is a must listen album, no doubt about it.
