Indominus - "Legion Within" Review

     We all come to turning points in our lives, and the same can be said of the Irish band Indominus.  Bands usually undergo name changes when they experience member fluctuations or sound changes.  The latter has surely happened to Indominus, formerly known by the moniker ForChristSake.  With any such change, there is a question as to whether the new band will perform as well as the old.  Indominus boasts a heavier sound, plays more cohesively as a unit, and has chosen a sonic avenue that harkens to the likes of bands such as Broken Flesh, Suffocation, and Cannibal Corpse.  Shredding guitars, shrieked death growls, and on-point drumming have all become hallmarks of the band's first release, Legion Within.
     The album begins with "Leeches," a track that sets a frantic pace that doesn't let up throughout the course of the EP.  Throughout the album, the band manages to be heavy while maintaining musical direction.  We've all listened to death metal bands and simply tossed them aside because there was no originality or drive to the music -- you won't find that here.  Frequent changes in pace and rhythm, soaring guitar solos, and gritty drumming all lay waste to the listener's sonic awareness.  The second track "Backbone" begins with a thrashy rhythm that propels the song forward into a blistering rendition reminiscent of Impending Doom with its driving force and catchy lyrics. 
      Certainly the high point of Legion Within is the track "Shadow."  This is the song that I keep coming back to.  It has a tinge of melodic death metal to it, as the overarching electric guitar truly shines on this track. "Shadow" seems like it should have been the finale on the EP.  "Fragile Existence" is perhaps the most technical song on the album, and it evoked the feel of As Hell Retreats.  Legion Within ends with its title track.  It begins with a "core" feel, with numerous breakdowns, but then flowers into a monolith of chugging guitars and frantic drumming.
     All in all, Indominus hit the mark with their debut EP.  It will be intriguing to see which route the band takes next -- it seems that either becoming more technical or adding more melodic overtones would both suit Indominus fine.  Featuring the bass guitar more often could also benefit the band.  Earlier this week, I came across an interview with death metal legend Steve Rowe of Mortification.  His Scrolls era work is known as some of the best Australian death metal to date.  He said something surprising in that interview -- namely, that there really isn't a Christian metal scene right now.  I have great respect for Mr. Rowe, but it's quite possible that he hasn't given Legion Within a listen...

P.S. -- Did I mention that's some killer artwork on the cover?  \m/

Rating:  4.0/5.0

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ForChristSake - "Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror" Album Review

 

The clouds of the heavens roll back and the White Rider descends with eyes of blazing fire, come to rain judgment upon the Earth.  The hordes of evil cower under a fierce onslaught of rolling guitars and drums as relentless growling rents the air.  If the human mind can truly fathom the wanton destruction that comes with the end times, certainly ForChristSake has hit a chord of verisimilitude with their extreme metal debut Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror.

Apocalyptic Divisions of Divine Terror is a carefully crafted album that plunges into multiple metal subgenres.  The band draws influence from legendary acts like Bolt Thrower in its thrashy riffs and driving melodies, while the breakneck pace, drumming, and shouting that is interspersed with the death growls is reminiscent of Living Sacrifice’s album Inhabit.  Intermingled amidst this wealth of diversity are black metal shrieks, symphonic pieces, melodic riffs, and even some singing.  These elements all mesh together to create an enjoyable, diverse album for the listener.   A few highlights from the album include the driving thrash monster “At the Gates of Depravity,” the heroic, guitar-shredding “Serpent Rises,” and the groove-laden “Necronemesis.”

While these elements all blend together to create a highly enjoyable, intricate album, Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror is merely a stepping stone towards a higher pinnacle.  It’s a step in the right direction, but the band still has a few things to tweak.  The album is extensive in length, with 16 tracks.  For the average prog lover, this isn’t any problem.  For some thrash and death metal heads, this may be more of an issue.  ForChristSake keeps it captivating enough that you won’t lose interest easily, but it’s still a monolith of sound that takes a firm will to tackle all at once.  Cutting a few of the songs off of the top would have made the album more accessible to the casual listener.  While the production is excellent, there is still some work to do to create a perfect balance between the different musical elements that appear on the album.

If the band continues to experiment with different styles of music, and they grow more cohesive as a unit, they have immense potential.  Death, thrash, and black metal fans alike will find many aspects of Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror enjoyable.  So what are you waiting for?  Put on your headphones, tune out the world around you, and experience a new vision of terror and mayhem.

  Rating:  3.5/5.0

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Upcoming Album Review - ForChristSake

In the next few days, look for an album review for the upcoming release from ForChristSake's first full-length album, Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror.