World Without Flesh

The best way to describe Atominated's World Without Flesh is a burst of uncontrollable energy. From the long open chords of "Atomination" to the groove centered thrash interlude at the end of "Hook Torn Flesh," this EP just reeks of thrash. It's just indisputable. The influence of other thrash metal bands like, Kreator, and even Municipal Waste and Lich King is clear, and this band's members were seasoned listeners of that metal genre. But I can also hear a huge chunk of originality poking it's way out of World Without Flesh.

One of the problems I have had with newer thrash metal bands is their overuse of "thrash stereotypes." You know what I mean. An excess of garbage lyrics and song titles about sweaty dudes in a mosh pit, music destroying the listener, or getting drunk and going crazy. Sure, I have to make exceptions with bands like Gama Bomb and Municipal Waste because they make those subjects actually bearable in songs. I'm here to tell you that Atominated makes no such errors. The lyrical subjects matched the album very well, with the topics of Armageddon and the living dead being spit out with aggression by vocalist Eoin Clarke.

Clarke reminds me of a lot vocalists I've heard in the thrash bands that I've heard. He's got force behind his voice and a little bit of grit thrown in to make his sound well-rounded. The guitar tone of David Curran wasn't anything new to me, but his riffs and melodies themselves were for the most part original and quite relentless. Michael Hannon's sludgy bass playing is absolutely terrific. As a the member of the band that supports the melodic end of said band's sound, he does really well. As the member of the band who helps to keep the drummer in time with the guitarist, he didn't do too well. As much as Nathan Quinn's drumming is complex and driving, he sometimes gets out of sync with the rest of the band. That's an issue that is inexcusable in my, and many other people's opinions. An example of this is at the 2:51 mark of "Atomination." The double-bass groove that he spits out just does not match the groove of the rest of the band and it almost ruins that part of the song.

The production however was a definite success and was part of the reason why I love this EP so much. I'm blown away by the folks up in Track Mix Studio of Dublin. They produced a release with phenomenal bass tone and clarity, wonderful guitar playing, and drums and vocals that pierce through the wall of sound produced by Atominated's melodic section.

Other than "Hook Torn Flesh," which is above all songs on World Without Flesh, the remaining 3 songs are nearly a draw in overall sound and quality. But I think that the other stand out would have to be "Atomination." It's first very fast riff reminds me a lot of "Hordes of Chaos" by Kreator and some of the vocal phrasing even reminds me of Tom Araya's. It also contains some lovely groove sections that get you off your feet and start to bang your head till it hurts. "Contagion" sounded like a Municipal Waste song that could've been taken right off of one of their albums and "My New Face" was just too short and wasn't as good as the other songs of this thrashing EP.

Give this EP a good listen. It's one of the best ones that I've heard in a while. It's just too bad that Atominated has broken up, because I would absolutely buy their stuff. Oh well, we'll just have to make do with this gnarly little EP called World Without Flesh.