Style: Deathcore (Harsh vocals)
Review by: Chris
Country: US (MA)
Release date: 25 May, 2021
I feel like I’ve said it a few times when reviewing albums on the deathcore side of things, but while deathcore is having an internal renaissance of sorts, some of the newer acts have not managed to grab me much in the midst of it. I think I typically find most albums from the scene good for background music when working out, working, or something similar, but not many are real attention grabbers lately. I would say Transmigrator, the latest offering from Massachusetts based Graveborn, fits solidly into that general assertion.
Let’s start with what works. First off, Transmigrator is a pretty well conceived and structured album from top to bottom. Meant to be an album about cycles and growth, it consists of main track linked together through small interludes. This is important to note mainly because this is not really a 12-track length album as it seems at first glance since 5 of the tracks serve as the aforementioned transitions rather than songs proper. The album opens with one of these ambient pieces, “Recapitulation”, whose ambient oppressive soundscape is broken by the classic detuned deathcore gallup style breakdown, immediately introducing the low guttural layers that come into play throughout the album. This breakdown ends on a chordal stop before devolving into the opening riff of the first song proper “Moksha”.
From this point, most tracks are fairly standard fare for the genre overall. Different tracks have their standout moments (mainly those in the recommended) but I’m not sure there is much about this specific sound that really jumps out as immediately inspiring compared to their contemporaries. Everything you expect to be solid definitely is. The breakdowns are meaty and gritty, the vocals enjoy a multitude of focus in the mix and great layering, and the drums do a good job of treading a line between manic and solid. I supposed that ability to tread such a line would be one plus compared to other bands doing the same thing, where the drums sometimes really have a hard time not getting in the way. The guitars are as thick and dirty as you would want, while still keeping a clarity on the riffs that speaks to the well recorded nature of the whole album.
I would highlight the three recommended tracks as signs of a possibility of more interesting compositions coming from this band. “The Place Where Beasts Eat Hearts” shines about 2 minutes in with a big open melodic style riff coupled with great guitar padding work underneath. The interplay between the vocal and guitar rhythms is also a great use of competing rhythms in composition. “Chronovore” deserves mention for a similar melodic-styled section which eventually devolves itself into a moving breakdown line, where the low chug gallops are interlaced with alternate picking melody climbs that help sell the whole package..
I think unfortunately I still land with this album where I land with a lot of albums like it. Is it good? Sure, it definitely is competent and good. I’m not sure I’m impressed markedly by many aspects of it outside of some shining moments, and that to me designates it to be another background album for doing other tasks instead of a real sit-down-and-enjoy album. But if you need another workout deathcore album or you really love the current deathcore sound with a good ear for interlacing breakdowns with melody, this would be a good pickup.
Recommended tracks: The Place Where Beasts Eat Hearts, Chronovore, Palingenesis
Recommended for fans of: The Black Dahlia Murder, Hive, Thy Art is Murder
Final verdict: 6/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Label: Independent
Graveborn is:
– John Leblanc (vocals)
– Jesse Blanchette (guitars, vocals)
– Reggie Lewis (bass)
– James Stoner (drums)
– Chris Ramusiewicz (guitar)
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