Figures – Operating in Unsafe Mode (Australia)
Style: Alternative/Metalcore (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | RYM page
Review by: Tyler
I’m just gonna come out and say it: This is gonna be a ‘no’ from me dawg. I’m sorry to use an outdated meme for this, but that about sums up how I feel about this. I don’t typically go for riffy or djenty bands too much, I find them a bit boring, and adding surface level political and social centered lyrics is just taking it lower for me. So, from this moment forward, there is a bias.
It’s such a shame too, everyone in the band appears way more talented than what this album ended up being. There is a lot of complex stuff happening in the instruments. The kick drum rhythms specifically stood out a lot, in addition to a lot of the effects and melodies happening in the guitars. And the vocalist, my fucking god, he KILLS on this album. His energy made this a million times more tolerable. It was awesome. In addition, the production is actually great as well. Crystal clear, not annoying to listen to by any stretch of the imagination.
Now let’s get into it. There could not be a more cliched sounding album I could pick out. What I said about the production, yes it sounds great, but they pull all of the same heavy pop punk tricks you see all a dozen times a day. It just sounds like an album I’ve heard enough times at this point. There are also a few songs that mix in the hip hop style verses that we all know and love. There is, obviously, nothing wrong with hip hop at all, but for me it’s usually best to either go all in or not go in at all. They happen in songs 2, 7, and some of 9. It’s just odd to throw that in a few times of the album. It messes with the flow and consistency of the album. Mixed in with some pretty blah lyrics about politics and not so clever metaphors, it’s an odd listen to hear something so mediocre come out of some clearly talented folks.
I won’t dwell too much longer on this album, I clearly wasn’t the target for this, so I won’t pretend that I was disappointed or expected something more. If you listen to stuff like Don Bronco or Deftones, give it a whirl, I probably won’t. If anything, listen to hear some excellent performances.
Recommended tracks: Someone Uninvited, Underpaid Machinery
Recommended for fans of: Deftones, Don Broco
Final verdict: 4.5/10
Universe in My Yard – Holographic Sight (Italy)
Style: Deathcore (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram
Review by: Chris
I will immediately admit that my bar for anything touting itself as progressive deathcore is Exoplanet by The Contortionist. I know in my heart this is unfair, but it is true. That out of the way, Holographic by Universe in My Yard, while it did not meet or exceed that bar, definitely put up one hell of a fight to attempt to do so. This album has a healthy blend of deathcore, tech-death, and alternative metal styles to keep the listener engaged throughout.
The intro track “World Wide Addiction” felt like an attempt at the slightly off-kilter clean delay intros a lot of bands do these days, though I felt this one was disserviced by the lack of more expansion beyond just being some random delay hits. Around 50 seconds in I thought it was attempting to bring itself to a groove that could be espoused on, but found myself disappointed when it was immediately dropped to move on to the full distorted sounds. The next song, “Isolating Veil” was one of the big reasons I dropped Revocation in the FFO, because it started a theme of the more running forward, pushing riffs from these guys having the same feeling a lot of Revocation songs do.
Being honest, I wasn’t especially into the first half of the album, as it was a bit samey for my taste (with some surprises along the way, but nothing too crazy). This really is a back-half album though. “Twelve Years Delay” suddenly mid way through drops itself into a demented lounge swing jam before devolving into super high melodic riffing. “Kempeitai” devolves into an almost avant styled spoken word bass and drum break before hitting a really nice melody and chord focused breakdown. “Imagine Your Life as a Palindrome” also finds itself for a bit turning into an almost swing style song before it suddenly feels like a darker heavier math rock song. These three songs I felt really showed what the band was capable of writing.
Overall, the highs for me are definitely the more chord focused breakdowns (I’m a sucker for those over normal djent-style deathcore breakdowns), the moments where the small genre diversions are made, and the more techy moments in the album. The lows for me are the vocals, which I just felt were there and never really contributed much other than, well, being deathcore vocals. The drum production wasn’t really too my taste either though it was standard fare for the genre. I found this a pretty solid release, I just found myself wishing it was all like the back half. Right now I felt the front dragged it down and an album that was the back half x2 would have scored much higher with me. It’s definitely a good thing to check for anyone into the more progressive leaning deathcore bands.
Recommended tracks: Twelve Years Delay, Kempeitai, Imagine Your Life as a Palindrome
Recommended for fans of: Thy Art is Murder, Exoplanet-era The Contortionist, Revocation
Final verdict: 6.5/10
Denominate – Isochron (Finland)
Style: Tech Death (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Review by: Dylan
If I had reviewed this album earlier into my time in this blog, it probably would’ve gotten a better score. But after you’ve reviewed roughly 150 albums of underground prog metal, you start to grow tired of acts like these; acts that are pretty good in what they do, but offer nothing different in comparison to so many bands. Denominate is exactly that, a prog/tech-death band that follows a kind of mixture of every big band in the scene. They delivered a very competent album… but I really can’t see myself listening to it after my review.
I’m gonna give them the benefit of the doubt because it’s very subjective if a band “clicks” with you. Objectively speaking, this is a very well done album; with plenty of variety within it’s chaotic segments and peaceful interludes, good production, and tight songwriting. It’s just that it’s missing “it”, that thing that makes you hungry for more.
If a reader checks this album and falls in love with it, I wouldn’t be surprised at all! Because every staple element of the genre is here and executed correctly. For me however, it just missed.
Recommended tracks: Isochron
Recommended for fans of: Revocation, Opeth
Final verdict: 6/10
Stilema – Utopia (Italy)
Style: Folk (mostly clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Review by: Matt
If Turisas is “battle metal,” maybe Stilema can be “joust metal.” This folky band has a great gift for songwriting, but they don’t go overboard trying to be epic, nor are there any gimmicky drinking songs. Utopia sounds martial and medieval, but breezy and good-natured, like a friendly contest of arms. In a way, it reminds me of the folk parts Rhapsody used to do, rather than any of the usual Finnish suspects. The album does veer into symphonic territory, and there’s even a bit of power metal here, though the speed doesn’t pick up nearly to the degree of something like Ensiferum. Despite sporadic harsh vocals and blastbeats, this is a pretty humble little album that nevertheless packs a punch.
Things start out jaunty and anthemic on the first two tracks, a little bit “Brave Sir Robin” if you will, but from “Ophelia” onward, the album becomes more complex and introspective. By the end, it is as intricate as that very striking artwork. This band has a real knack for bold, tasteful arrangements, with the end of the piano-driven “Armonie” containing one of the strangest but most beautiful transitions I’ve heard. There’s no shortage of catchy violin melodies either, of course, and fans of bands like Elvenking won’t be disappointed. All the non-metal instrumentation is used in a smart and authentic-sounding way, and at no point does it feel like “OK HERE IS THE VIOLIN PART.” All instruments share equally in the proceedings, unlike some bands where the guitars are basically ornamental. Overall, the songwriting on Utopia is consistently great.
Apparently, this is an old band that only recently decided to add metal to the mix, but it’s clear that they’re longtime fans of the genre, and they came up with a fresh perspective on it rather than a hack job. Whatever Stilema do, they do it with class, and you would do well to listen to this album if you want folk metal with depth.
Recommended tracks: Ophelia,Mondi Parallel, Armonie
Recommended for fans of: Elvenking, Falconer
Final verdict: 8/10
Black Harvest – Sun Across the Fields [EP] (US-NY)
Style: Black/Melodeath/Doom (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Review by: Dylan
Oh my baby Jesus, this is certainly quite an album.
Black Harvest is a band composed entirely of singer/player/songwriter/producer Kishor. Sun Across the FIelds is a very ambitious release, containing just about a bit of everything: black metal, early melodeath, tech death, shoegaze, doom, and of course, prog (I know these are a lot of genres, so look at the FFOs if you’re confused).
This ‘’EP’’ is only 3 tracks long, but the shortest of them all exceeds 8 minutes of runtime. To some, that may seem like a red flag, but every single minute of the record is absolutely justified. It’s become increasingly difficult for me to thoroughly enjoy every minute of any release at all, but this is one of those rare cases where everything seems to fit. The production is amazing, the amount of interesting melodies is insane, the headbangability of the chaos is crazy good, and it’s awareness of where to go dissonant and when to let the ears rest is something few acts have nailed as well as this one.
I really can’t add much than to just tell you to PLEASE listen to this. I know many of our readers won’t listen to bandcamp only but this is something worth opening a Chrome tab just to listen to it. The fact that all of this was made by one dude is something that’s nothing short of incredible, as he presents a record that’s easily going to fit in my end of the year list.
(btw Kishor if you’re reading this please add the album to major streaming releases, I’d really love to have it on all my playlists :D)
Recommended tracks: It’s 30 minutes/3 tracks, just listen to the whole thing
Recommended for fans of: Lantlos, Opeth, Emperor, 90s melodeath riffs
Final verdict: 9.2/10
Dystopia A.D. – Rise of the Merciless [EP] (US-NJ)
Style: Melodic Death (mostly harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Review by: Sam
I went into this album expecting Opeth worship, but I’m happy to report that that is not the case! Dystopia A.D. is a (progressive) melodic death metal band with some minor folk influences. Or, as their “long description” on Facebook succinctly put it: PURE FUCKING BLACKENED SLAMMING MELODIC BRUTAL POWER THRASHCORE METAL.
…yeah. Beyond that though, the story behind this album is interesting. Lead guitarist Aki Shishido recorded all his parts in his CHU during his time serving in Afghanistan. Unsurprisingly, the album is also about war and what it does to a person. As far as my poetry comprehension skills (hah) are concerned, the lyrics are well written, so that’s a definite plus for folks who value good lyrics.
Now enough about the lyrics. I enjoyed the album a lot. It’s produced very well and thicc. The record has a nice crunchy guitar tone, the vocals are massive and the rhythm section sounds fat and juicy. Luckily the songwriting also lives up to how big the album sounds. It’s in no way predictable as the band’s mastery over dynamics is just stellar. Opener “Nomad” makes this immediately clear: it brings intense death metal sections, but also goes into slower, melodic parts and even a complete dropoff reminiscent of Opeth 20 years ago. In no way is Dystopia A.D. a clone band though: their core sound lies safely within the melodic death metal framework. Their primary goal is definitely to get you headbanging. They just make sure to also throw in a couple of blissful melodic sections to keep the snobs like me around. Paired with a strongly eastern flavor in the guitarwork and atmosphere (which brings Aeternam to mind) it’s a recipe for success. There’s also one Spanish-flavored acoustic section in the title track which sounded almost exactly like something you’d hear on Witherfall’s debut Nocturnes and Requiems. I doubt Dystopia A.D. has ever listened to them, but I thought it was worth mentioning nonetheless.
Rise of the Merciless is a great album in my opinion. It’s a shame that it’s only an EP because if they keep this up, they might just grow too popular for me to review by their next full length. The potential of this band is sky-high and I recommend everyone who likes melodeath or prog death give this a listen.
Recommended tracks: Nomad, Plaguebringers, Rise of the Merciless
Recommended for fans of: Aeternam, Opeth, Dark Tranquillity
Final verdict: 7.5/10
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