DESULTORY - COUNTING OUR SCARS
Kategori: Albums
Because that's what this is, an awesome album. They have some great guitar melodies, but still keeping the onslaught of Death Metal going strong. The melodies are quite melancholic, which in a sense reminds me of DEATH - but without the super-technical stuff that Chuck did. Another thing that also brings my thoughts to the same band is the lyrics. They feel very personal, and as the title reveals they're about losses, sadness and some anger (Sound of Perseverance, anyone?). A theme that really suits Death Metal in my opinion, as it's a very very expressive style of music if you chose to take it in that direction... which DESULTORY does obviously. And to top it all off I think that Klas Morberg has a perfect voice for such emotions. He has this growl with a sad touch but without loosing the aggression.
However you twist and turn it, one of the most important aspects of any Death Metal are the drums. They're so very important to get the right feel of things. And this is something I think Thomas Johnson is really good at. The feel. He doesn't do anything overly super-technical-amazing-wow-things but instead he keeps it rather simple and plays just the right thing at the right place. You have the fast parts, the groovy ones and they really drive the songs forward. It's really easy to forget that and focus on the great melodies or the vocals and all... but I think with such a nice core that the drums make the rest of the band has a rather easy time!
I'm not saying that to put down the efforts of the band however, I just wanted to give a special mention to a pretty subtle thing I think many people miss. Because as a guitar player I totally love the melodies of this album, how they just flows together and how the songs are connected so you feel a unity. You get this "this song is obviously from this album" yet it still sounds like the old DESULTORY.
I also love the cover, which is made by Travis Smith (Nevermore, Opeth, Amorphis, King Diamond). It's such a simple idea but it works so well.
Well, to round things up: I basically think this is a very strong contender for album of the year! All the elements of the album just sum up perfectly together! It's certainly one of my most listened to albums this year so far!
Really looking forward to seeing them live again next week!
http://www.myspace.com/desultoryofficial
Tracklist:
1. In A Cage
2. Counting Our Scars
3. Ready To Bleed
4. This Broken Halo
5. The Moment Is Gone
6. Uneven Numbers
7. Dead Ends
8. Leeching Life
9. A Crippling Heritage
