Reviews for October 9th, 2012

Daylight Dies – A Frail Becoming

I have been eagerly waiting for the new Daylight Dies, and today it finally dropped. I was unable to track down an advance copy, so like the rest of the world I had to wait for it to hit iTunes this morning and snap it up there. Daylight Dies play a death-inflected doom metal and “A Frail Becoming” is their fourth album.

What a treat. I am only on the opening track, “Infidel” and already I am digging the new stuff. The songs are just slow enough to have that doom feel, but not so glacial as to induce sleep. The vocals are mostly harsh (though sometimes clean) and make me feel like I am actually listening to a full on death metal album, only at half speed. I can get my introspective and moody kicks while also banging my head.

Personally, with every passing song I love this album more. This is another incredible performance from the guys from North Carolina. I will be listening to this non-stop this week. Then next week I get to look forward to the new My Dying Bride.

Do yourself a favor and check out “A Frail Becoming.” I will even help you out by posting the video for “Dreaming of Breathing.”

Sinheresy – The Spiders and the Butterfly

Sinheresy is a symphonic/melodic metal band from Italy and “The Spiders and the Butterfly” is their debut 5-song EP.

There are of course many metal bands with men singing, and also many with women out front, particularly symphonic metal bands. I do not, however, know of very many metal bands that feature both male and female lead vocals. Two of my favorite that come to mind are fellow Italians, Lacuna Coil, and gothic doom metal masters Draconian. Today I am adding Sinheresy to that list.

Sinheresy features the vocal talents of Cecilia Petrini and Stefano Sain, and let me tell you they sound good. I really enjoy the equal mic time both singers receive. I tend to get bored with female-fronted symphonic metal after a few songs because it starts to all run together and sound the same; having dual singers brings a fresh dynamic to these songs that helps keep them interesting.

The music runs the gamut of heavy metal chunka-chunka, grandiose symphonic moments and cleaner, quiet passages. The production sounds great. I cannot find anything to complain about other than the fact that there are only five songs. I hope to hear more Sinheresy in the future. Check out the video for “Temptation Flame.”

Downfall of Gaia – Suffocating in the Swarm of Cranes

Downfall of Gaia is a German band and I believe “Suffocating in the Swarm of Cranes” is their second album. I am not entirely sure how to label them. The Metal Blade press release confirms this difficulty with comparing them to other bands, and says their sound ranges from doom to black metal, from down-tempo to sludge and hardcore. Yeah, that sounds about right to me.

I get a doom flavor from the ambient/airy atmosphere of the recordings. From there, the music picks up a black metal feel from some of the lengthy guitar sections which are both melodic and droning. The vocals are barked in what one might consider hardcore fashion, though given the atmosphere of the album they are less in-your-face and more submerged into the mix.

I can take or leave the vocals, but I am really enjoying the music. There is so much instrumental work that the vocals almost seem secondary to the music anyway.

“Suffocating in the Swarm of Cranes” is definitely worth giving a listen. Check out the track “In the Rivers Bleak.”

Beast – Thrash Metal Propaganda

Beast is a Spanish thrash metal band and “Thrash Metal Propaganda” is their second EP.

The five songs on “Thrash Metal Propaganda” hearken back to the early days of thrash: they are bare-bones and uncomplicated, yet catchy and mosh-inspiring. The vocals are barked in a manner similar to the style re-popularized by Municipal Waste, though they do not sound particularly like Tony Foresta.

I have a hard time saying people should run out and get something that is not terribly original, but personally I am enjoying these tracks. Old-school thrash is my sweet tooth, so I am easily pleased. I would not let a reviewer decide for me whether I should like something, and I would not expect any of you to do so either. I merely try to point people in the direction of music I find interesting. That is what I am doing here. Check these guys out and see what you think.

Here is the track “Thrash Metal Holocaust.”