Rareform

Let me start by saying that the name After The Burial is a complete misnomer for this band. With a band name like After The Burial, you'd probably expect a generic chug-chug breakdown deathcore band. Instead, this is an intensely melodic and technical band with a focus on breakdowns. "Arsis and Meshuggah had a baby" (as quoted from a fellow reviewer) pretty much sums this album up.

The album is chock-full of some deliciously weird and off-beat guitar playing, a good example in "The Fractal Effect" at about 2:50, that may make you scratch your head at times. The bass and guitar both work smoothly together, each intertwining their own respective parts. The vocals are fairly average, more in the hardcore genre with a few high black metal screams to keep things varied. The drums are probably the worst part of the album, the production was clearly lacking in that area, the double bass sounds woefully triggered.

Onto the songs. Each song is fairly similar, but each manages to keep their own separate identities. From the extremely melodic guitar work in "Ometh", to the insanely fast breakdown at the end of "Drifts, this band has something to cover all their bases. This band will keep you guessing, changing from melody to a breakdown in a blink of an eye. The standout tracks are "Drifts", "Ometh", and "Cursing Akenaten".

Overall, this is a fantastic album, something fans of Meshuggah will easily be able to get into. Their is something for every fan of the -core genres in here, from the quick solos and melodies to the bone-shattering breakdowns. If I had to recommend a metalcore band to some who usually listens to other types of metal, this is the band I would recommend.