The Last Tree

Rarely do bands make such an effort to provide a great listening experience and have a big presence with their fans. But the guys from Cormorant do just that. The Last Tree is their debut, a self-financed, self-released affair thats equal parts melodic death metal ala Amon Amarth, progressive in the Edge of Sanity sense, and originality, with Arthur von Nagel's excellent work on the fretless bass and powerful, thoughtful lyrics unlike many of today's extreme metal bands. This is the mark of 3 guys that really truly love metal, for the hard work and dedication put into their band shines through in each of the cd's 5 tracks.

But, in my opinion, these 5 tracks are something a lot different than what you may be used to hearing. Each song stands well on its own, with the lyrics providing a background or a story, and the excellent, highly melodic guitar work providing the scenery. Its strange that many bands, bands that have released material for years, do not, or are not, capable of producing material that can stand on their own so well, but Cormorant have done this, and more. From the thrashing, galloping riffs on Trojan Horses, to the artful melodies and watery bass work on the exceptional Ballad of the Beast, these 3 guys give a stale genre a nice breath of fresh air. Each instrument is very well complimented by the drumming, while not flashy or spectacular, they successfully guide the listener through the storyboard-feel of each song. The organic feel of the drums is a nice touch, something sorely lacking in a field where triggered sounds are abundant.

And while the 26 minute EP has plenty of positives to stand on, it does have its negatives, mainly with the vocals. The vocals are fairly average and consistent, they do not vary too much from track to track (save for a few times where Arthur goes on a high note with his growls). And while the vocal work itself isnt a problem for me, the way they are mixed is the real problem. Many times during the course of the album the vocals get drowned slightly by the guitar and bass work, and in faster sections, the drums contribute to drowning the vocals as well. The final track, Ballad of the Beast, does not suffer from this, however, and Arthur's low, guttural growl is a strangely fitting compliment to the softer, highly melodic music. The bass also suffers at times from being a little low in the mix, but Arthur's creative playing manages to make it shine through the production problems, providing a great boost to the strong songwriting.

Overall, you'll find very little wrong with this release. Each track is very well written and flow very well with each other, yet they can also stand up well on their own right. With a superb packaging job (the digipak's artwork is amazing and the cd isnt too far behind in quality), and a very dedicated core, this band will be recognized as a force in the coming years. I'm definitely waiting for new material.

Standout track: Ballad of the Beast