Eyes Wide Open
Aftermath

We start the year in the aftermath of an apocalypse, and we go at it with eyes wide open. Thing is though that apocalypse stories feel at least fifteen years too late, there is nothing apocalyptical about the change in year to 2014. But then again with all the global warming going on this year, who knows? a bit warmer climate is a big problem as everyone loves sow and very cold climate. But it is an appealing theme, disasters and apocalypses is always fun. But of course it requires some grande thematics and atmospheres to really work as it is a conceptual album that is said to be the first in a trio with the same concept. A bit ambitious for a debuting band I have to say and when doing conceptual stuff it requires some more from the music to really sell the story. So do they sell the story?

Not really, it is Gothenburg styled melodic death metal that doesn’t show anything in terms of originality and such. Maybe it has a bit of added touch of emo or emocore or something in that style but nothing that really stands out stylewise. Not that epic which is a shame considering that this kind of story requires a bit more epic stylings. It is very well produced though, well performed and I think that it sounds fairly mature and strong. I think that the album could have been somewhat more varied than it is, the songs are fairly similar in style but not like they tell a story either so they are a slight bit off target on that regard but it is a first album and it is bound to have some room for improvements.

I think that one problem with this album is that it is a bit on the long side, not when looking at the minutes it plays as those are just 43 but this is down to the slight lack of variation making the album feel a bit long towards the end. I like the album though, not so much that I would appoint it amongst the best of last year but still as one that I found pleasurable listening to which I have done quite many times now. The problem they will face though is that this kind of melodic death metal is a fairly packed genre already and there are some standout albums and to that level it is quite far for these guys.

I think the album has a few very strong songs but the ones that makes a mark for me is the opening track as well as the third track FOXDIE, these are the ones that comes back to me when thinking of the album. Good one it is, especially considering that it is a debut but it still leaves some things to be desired. I am sure that these guys have a lot more to offer and we might possibly hear that in the continuation of this story that is opened with this part called Aftermath.

In the end I think that we can describe this as a good debut album and one that will probably appeal to those of you who likes melodic death metal, it appeals to me quite a bit but at the same time one has to admit that there are many albums in the genre that does and these guys needs to do more to really stand out.

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