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Allegaeon > Elements of the Infinite > Reviews > TheAntagonist
Allegaeon - Elements of the Infinite

Tech Death Supremacy! - 90%

TheAntagonist, July 18th, 2014

Tech death giants Allegaeon return once again to shatter the cosmos and your perception of metal with Elements of the Infinite on Metal Blade Records. 2012′s Formshifter was a mind-bending foray that pushed into the upper echelons of metal releases for the year. With that being said the bar has certainly been set and how it unfolds should be a feast for the metal masses.

From the outset, the intro that we are presented with opens in grand, nearly cinematic fashion. There is a feeling that you are thrust right into an ominous science fiction movie. Ezra Haynes begins to spew forth and visions of life and death drift into your psyche. Greg Burgess and Michael Stanchel appear with their axes and begin to systematically slice you apart one tremolo riff at a time. Corey Archuleta thumps you far away to the low-end of the galaxy while Brandon Park hammers your soul into dust. It is clear that no prisoners will be taken on this journey.

What becomes apparent the more you spin this album is that Allegaeon are clearly at the top of their game. Next to Agalloch’s The Serpent & Sphere I have been getting annihilated to this album the most. It’s amazing how guitar riffs proceed to flow effortlessly as evidenced on the track “Dyson Sphere”. The Dyson Sphere is a hypothetical structure that surrounds a star and captures its power. Dyson speculated that these structures may be the key to increased energy needs or another theory would be to create a Dyson Sphere around Allegaeon and harness their energy. Then we have “1.618” which may just become the new gold standard for tech death journeymen. All elements merge together in a perfect congruence on this track.

Now we come to the absolute zenith of the album “Genocide for Praise – Vals for the Vitruvian Man”. Imagine being immersed into an old Nintendo game like Mega Man as you ease into this juggernaut of a song. What is in store for you is some of the most emotive guitar riffs this side of the astral plane. This song is so massive I felt the urge to devote an entire paragraph to it. Once you hear the swelling climax you will understand the sentiment. It is a phenomenal track and a very apropos ending to this colossal work.

Allegaeon have really outdone themselves on Elements of the Infinite. There is serious focus and technical display that it’s nearly incomprehensible. Elements of the Infinite has undoubtedly surpassed their previous efforts. This is a must listen to album for all fans of metal. Partake of the chaos or languish in eternity forever unaware of the force known as Allegaeon.

Originally written for Adequacy.net:
http://www.adequacy.net/2014/07/allegaeon-elements-of-the-infinite/