99942

Looks like this band is finally forging their own identity with traceable results. The cryptically-titled 99942 continues many of the themes introduced on Inhaling Blackness - Reflecting Light, which means that one of the main influences is Dark Tranquillity; specifically the vibe of Damage Done and Character. However, riffs are far less emphasized here, and the band ends up sounding like straight-up industrial metal in the vein of Italy's T3chn0ph0b1a or something, what with the '80s synths and club-accessible aesthetic. It's a rather dapper-sounding ordeal to be sure, with resonant dissonance and a bleak, post-apocalyptic swaddling that teases at a deeper meaning. 99942 is certainly confident in what it presents.

... but what it presents is certainly flawed. I Spit Ashes are still making stabs at melodeath vehemence, but appear far more intent to stick to basic palm mutes and brickwork rhythm patterns. This means that beyond a few solid death churns, the riffs can only hope to toe the line, affixed with the dance-sounding synth lines and forceful vocals. Listen to "Paint the Stars Golden" for example; it sounds like The Kovenant more than anything. That said, there is a lot of character in the band's more droning, introspective take here. Compared to the debut, 99942 is certainly far more interesting, with quite a few tunes that stand out. "Shells of Fury" is a steady banger, with corporeal orchestrations and a lot of rhythmic variation. It sounds like an RPG battle theme at times. This is offset by Rathsmann's processed, blackened sneer. The vocals are certainly a high point, with a lot of inventive layering and implementation of varying styles. If the band could take this template and find a vocalist like Ben from Sybreed to do cleans, this could really go somewhere!

I have more positive things to say, especially concerning the album's overall vibe. It presents a very particular dystopian aesthetic. Rusted metal and hollowed out structures dot the landscape; cool mental images also shared by France's Herrschaft. I don't quite know what I think of the blooping video game synths that rear up from time to time. It sounds like chiptune music, and this isn't Machinae Supremacy! The Dark Tranquillity parallel continues, as most songs open with a simple synth line not unlike "Lost to Apathy" and such. "So(u)l Invictis" is a good example, with Rathsmann's choppy barking redolent of Stanne himself. The heavier tunes like "Enter Dystopia" prove that the band has the chops to crank up the dial. Certainly far from a mixed bag, the album offers a lot of memorable tunes.

The riffs still leave me wanting more, as much as I try and embrace 99942's remainder. It's certainly a captivating listen, if not for its bleak Fiction-esque atmosphere. I Spit Ashes are definitely finding their niche here, and deserve some brownie points for side stepping the obvious pigeonholing of the debut and carving a more idiosyncratic path. It needs more convincing riffs, but these guys are getting there.