2010 Demo

Novelty seems to be a long-lost concept in the metal world; gone are the days of inspiring bands churning out legendary albums, brilliant cover art and image-laden, thought provoking lyrics. In retrospect, it would appear that many a band has since missed the mark and overshot the dynamics and elements of what makes an act stand out, often sacrificing integrity for brutality. Such is the case when one begins to notice the prevailing trend of down-tuned, lifeless chugging guitars coupled with dime a dozen breakdowns that have since ransacked this lost art. It's quite uncommon for a new band to stand out (let alone break through) in a scene so heavily saturated, but it's for precisely this reason why Formless shine among their seemingly unending competition.

With the exception of a few, it's rare to find a modern technical death metal band who not only brutalize as a unit, but can do so while moving forward in proficiently beautiful passages and interludes. All too common are the over use of pummeling, incoherent riffs and drumming with no direction; and while Formless share many similarities with their brethren, their musical skill (and almost neoclassical/shred vibe at times) makes for many a memorable part. There's something to be said about a band who can remain heavy while still being creative with their songwriting as a whole.

The guitar work is nothing short of stellar on this demo. Ken and Annie do an excellent job switching things up lead wise; not once do you feel as if your ears are being intruded by boring, stale scales and patterns (another common theme in modern "technical" death metal). The drumming is spot on, often locking in tight rhythms and patterns with the bass. Speaking of which, 1:32 into "In Death, Rebirth" features some well placed, in your face bass riffing sure to make any tech-head drool.

This leads to the outstanding vocals. Kevin goes above and beyond the call of duty here, often utilizing multiple techniques in each track. Deep growls, high pitched/ throaty gutturals, and the occasional clean narration (yes, narration) shine through here; a true jack of all trades. This is a huge aspect of this bands sound, and one of the main reasons I consider their style so fitting and unique in comparison to others on the scene. Add to this the dynamic of Annie's clean vocals, and you've got a well rounded debut effort.

An often long overlooked (and criminally so) aspect of any good death metal band is its lyrical content. While Formless doesn't stray too far from the beaten path in this aspect, one can't help but admire the level of articulation here. "Horrid Obsession" immediately calls to mind the first three Cannibal Corpse records with it's graphic violence portrayed through the eyes of a psychopathic/perverted serial killer. "Forever of Nothing" is laced with nihilistic philosophy about the nature of the human mind/existence, and "In Death, Rebirth" appears to convey the cycle of power and tyranny plaguing a world with deception.

Fans of bands like The Faceless, Augury, Decrepit Birth, Symphony X, Decapitated, Necrophagist, Defeated Sanity and Between The Buried And Me will absolutely dig this. The only thing lacking are more songs; I can't wait to hear what they have up their sleeve for their full length. In a scene that's flooded with internet bands and do-it-yourself home recordings, Formless stands tall as pioneers of this next generation of fun, well written, uncompromising death metal. Their avoidance of the generic elements help breathe new life into this stagnating genre, and they couldn't have arrived a moment sooner!