The Needle Drop

technical

Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution

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I'm no technical death metal fiend, but I've been warming up to the new Beyond Creation album lately, and I'm really liking what I'm hearing. These guys dropped a debut album in 2011, but Season of Mist reissuing the record in 2013 gave the band some serious momentum.

It's not hard to figure out why a label like SoM would salivate at the prospect of working with a band like this. The playing maybe be flashy, but the writing being executed here incredibly catchy and tasteful. Not only that, but the band's incorporation of fretless bass leads to a sound unlike any relevant technical death metal act out there today.

It's great to hear bass playing such a pivotal role in a genre where it's typically tacked on in the background. Plus, the fretless' fluid, smooth tone brings finesse to a metal style that is typically a little too rigid for my ears.

I could go on, but I'd rather save something for the review, ya know? Stream Beyond Creation's sophomore album via the widget above, and enjoy!

Artificial Brain - "Absorbing Black Ignition"

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Some incredibly dense, layered, and technical death metal from the New York band Artificial Brain. "Absorbing Black Ignition" is the first song to drop from their forthcoming debut album, Labyrinth Constellation. The LP is currently looking at a February 18th release date on Profound Lore. I think there's a lot to expect based on what's being displayed on the track above. For one, the track is incredibly varied with guitars that crush, uplift, and wail with dissonance. There's an interesting keyboard added to the last third of the song that breaks things up a bit, and the drums are absolutely insane. The percussion here is so fast, but the band has obviously opted for a more natural feel to their recording than some technical death metal bands out there these days. The atmospheric finish is a nice touch as well. Enjoy!