Clockwork

I don't think I've listened to so much tech-death at any point in my life as I do right now. It's probably one of the most extreme sub-genres out there but what makes me come back to it is that it's certainly one of the most diverse and innovative. Inanimate Existence's latest album "Clockwork" pretty much backs up that statement with every one of its facettes. It is clearly cutting edge in terms of creativity and originality and also revolves around the very boundaries of instrumental technique. But most importantly, it is a way of making those things work musically. Though this is the band's fourth full-length record, it is my first time listening to them and what really surprised me was just how melodic and beautiful (not a word I usually use to describe this genre) the songwriting is. It's probably the most melodic, airy and refreshing technical death metal I've ever heard! And since those are all adjectives that may seem unlikely to match an album of this sort, I suggest you stick around until the release and find out what I'm on about. (The album is coming on May 10th)

The most aggressive element in "Clockwork" is the vocal performance. It is harsh, gritty and a bit guttural and although to me it seems a bit pointless and not adding too much to the music, it is well executed and certainly doesn't hurt the overall sound in any way. The instrumental however, isn't so much aggressive as simply masterful. The songwriting style all the way throughout the album is a finely calibrated balance of shining melodies, strong progressive influences and insane technical performance. The playing is impeccably tight and the flow of the songs has a strong sense of order and cohesion. Nothing is confusing and they never overplay their hand in any department, keeping everything under control at all times. The production is also as clean and polished as it can get, making it impossible for you not to hear every single little detail, if only you have the attention span to actually notice and take in everything that's going on. It also sounds very full and gives a lot of depth and substance to the sound as a whole. And though all that may sound like a scientific load of gibberish without much musical relevance, I assure you it is all directed towards making you like the songs. And despite the very controlled aspect, it doesn't seem flattened out or lifeless but it generates a sort of ongoing and consistent surge of energy.

To get more in detail about their style, the key that clearly sets them apart and almost defines their sound is the use of lead guitars. The album is loaded with solos to the point where they are no longer an occasional occurrence but a core element of the band's chemistry. And in spite of seriously intense shredding sweeping and overall technical mumbo-jumbo, they find more than enough room to let the melody breathe and make those strings SING! It gets even better when you add the clean guitars which clearly have a hint of classical music and maybe a subtle Spanish guitar/flamenco influence though I'm not certain of that. What's most surprising is just how easily they can shine through and give everything an echoing, clear effect. It also adds a lot of groove with seriously inspired staccato parts.

At this point I should probably shift gears before making you think that this is all shiny and bright and bubbly. Allow me, my fellow metalhead to unburden you and let you know that contrasting to all that high soaring melody, Inanimate Existence are still a technical death metal band all the way and they are no strangers to drilling double pedals, gut punching low-end frequency bass and a seriously nasty chug. For all you out there who want something sick, there's no reason to avoid this album. Another thing that I loved about their music and in fact the element that had me throwing money at my speaker after the first 40 seconds was the hook. Not the kind of hook you're used to because it's very complex and doesn't really stick in your mind, but a very inspired blend of the singable melody coming together with a seriously "In your face" groovy, heavy and impactful style that really gets under your skin at the very first audition. The drum, bass and riff groundwork for their style is in general very oomphy and despite constant progressive twists and rhythm shifts, you'll be more than capable to bang your head through most of its run-time.

Now, "Clockwork" is quite linear in the sense that all songs sound pretty much the same. But at a compact 40 minute run time and so many different elements coming together in their style it stands no chance getting boring or redundant in any way. The lyrical concept is also very interesting, dealing with humanity's really brief and limited existence in the grand scheme of things and the title pretty much relates to the passing of time that brings us closer to our doom. Though it probably goes into deeper detail, that's what I got for now and it's definitely enough to show some serious intelligence. It's just another element that demonstrates how "Clockwork" is quality in every way. If you're a technical death enthusiast, it's a mandatory listen and if you're not, it might be the best contender to turn you into one.

Originally written for The Metal Observer.