Style: Progressive Death Metal, Tech Death (harsh vocals)
Review by: Mike
Country: US-PA
Release date: November 16, 2020
As someone that prefers metal of the more melodic variety, I sometimes struggle to articulate exactly what draws me towards the heavier side of the spectrum. Things like excellent production, precise technical playing, catchy songwriting, and liberal use of progressive elements will attract my attention regardless of genre. But when it comes to quality brutality, I fall back to a know-it-when-I-see-it mentality.
Insurmountable is the new EP (and first release since 2015) from Alustrium, a US-based progressive death metal band. They are cut from a similar cloth as bands from the last decade like Slugdge, Black Crown Initiate, Rivers of Nihil. They balance a merciless attack with just enough melodic components to bridge the gap to listeners such as myself. There are still plenty of blast beats, double bass, chunky riffs, and harsh vocals to go around but there is an undercurrent of hookiness that feels increasingly relevant these days. It’s hard to describe how those elements can sometimes come together to create something memorable but I know it when I hear it.
There are roughly 24 minutes of music spread across 4 tracks and Alustrium makes the most of that time. Opener “Fated To Despair” is pretty standard prog death with a pummelling double bass chorus. “Dark Waters” has a Gojira feel at points (coughpickscrapescough) and has some killer riffs throughout. “United In Enmity” increases the prog factor due to some diverse drumming and an acoustic passage that opens up into some tasteful guitar work. However, the title track, clocking in at over 9 minutes, is Insurmountable’s real showpiece. The opening verses have a haunting quality with half spoken harsh vocals and slowly arpeggiated guitars which really set the mood. After a catchy chorus, the track mellows out before coming back with a vengeance, and a symphonic element really helps set up an epic finale.
The only real shortcoming is that the album increasingly builds momentum through each track and then just stops. The album feels like it has untapped potential and could really ascend given another 15-20 minutes. Hopefully this EP will act as a teaser for an upcoming full length but only time will tell. If they continue to grow and build off this success, Alustrium’s next full length could follow in the footsteps of Esoteric Malacology. Slugdge’s 2018 album really garnered a lot of attention in prog death circles and they did so by upping their melodic game. If Alustrium continues to incorporate more dynamic & melodic elements in future releases, I believe they will be a force to reckon with.
Fans of progressive death metal will undoubtedly have a positive reaction to Insurmountable and the praise will be well warranted. Alustrium is on a trajectory to be a player in the prog/tech death genres but they need to keep that momentum going. Waiting another 5 years for new material can’t happen again if they want to take it to the next level. For now they should be proud of what they’ve accomplished with this EP and know they are headed in the right direction.
Recommended tracks: Insurmountable, United In Enmity, Dark Waters
Recommended for fans of: Slugdge, Black Crown Initiate, Obscura
Final verdict: 8/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Metal-Archives page
Label: Independent
Alustrium is:
– Jerry Martin (vocals)
– Mike DeMaria (guitars)
– Chris Kelly (guitars)
– Kevin Penny (bass)
– Chaz Squillace (drums)
0 Comments