To Bathe from the Throat of Cowardice

This is death metal firing on all pistons. Whether it's the guitars, bass, drums, or vocals, there is a constant sense of urgency. It's like mania in sound. This frantic wall of sound envelops you. If it's background music then it takes the formidable shape of a simple panoply of sound but if you sit and concentrate on it you'll see the blossom exposing itself. I wish the album art was brighter because I can't really make much out from the physical CD cover. The image on this website is far brighter and I'm able to appreciate it. Also, how thick is that guy's neck!? Where the knife stabs him seems like he would have missed him. Also, the "album version" listed here is as a digi-pak bugt mine is a jewel case. Don't know what's up with that but I'll see about a correction.

They've released an EP in 2017, Pain Will Define Their Death which was solid but this release let's you know they're the real deal. The title track off that EP here that is one of the more tech-heavy songs with a more dynamic sound here (at least my two versions sounded assuredly different). What they (he?) were up to since re-forming themselves from Those Who Lie Beneath in 2013, I have no idea! Sorry to bring this up! It seems like a sore spot... Their new sound is far more aggressive and timeless. TWLB was a product of the time with hard core influences, though rather minimal considering the all-encompassing death core tidal wave at the time. They won me over when seeing them on your with Cattle Decapitation and Devourment in 2010 at the nbow-defunct Portland staple The Satyricon. Apparently there were not many others impressed by their An Awakening album. The production is very similar, especially in the strings department. The mastering firs the aforementioned wall of sound play style.

This is definitely a guitar-focused band. There is a solo on every song and no shortage of leads, my favorite solo being on "I Drown Nightly", with "Hive Lungs" being a close second. There's even some melody on theback-end of the latter. I really appreciate the berserk approach with regular changes in variation. Not with time signatures, but with various playing techniques. There will be tremolo picking, chugs, pinch harmonics, open chords, all within a measure. The beginning riff of "Hive Lungs" reminds me of something that the almighty Origin would do. The tone is great with some very unique high-end portions that are almost... Squeaky. I know that sounds weird, but listen to 0:11 on "Crowned in Retaliation" for a quick sample. The excellent string section extends to the bass. There are multiple moments where the bass gets to shine. I thought it a fluke on the second song when such a guitar-forward band actually leaves room for the bass to stretch it's legs. It was no fluke and there's some solid bass-playing weaved through the whole album. It has the chops to keep up with the guitar (like on "Legacy of Contempt") yet has the confidence to venture off on it's own, as it does on "Violence, A Worthy Trust". In fact, listen to that whole song for a bass treat. The outro is simpler but has such a unique effect applied to the bass.

The vocals are a weaker portion of the album. Both in the writing and in the execution. The writing services the song being that it doesn't detract much from the whole but there's not many patterns that draw your attention to it. They're there to be there, if that makes sense. The style of said vocals are loud and mostly open-throated in a medium-bodied tone. The strain is felt in the amount rasp used. It's somewhat similar to Kyle Rasmussen's vocals in TWLB but with less hard core inflections. The drums are par for the course. They're fairly surgical and quite fast. As with the vocals, I'd like a little more to sink my teeth into. There's solid variation but it's all items we've heard before.

The production is raw but not early black metal demo-tape raw. It has a hard concrete finish edge but is still produced well enough. As mentioned before, there is a wall of sound that is constantly bullying you into the corner. It fits the abrasive style well. Somehow all instruments are audible and distinguishable at mostly every moment on the record. Normally this all-in approach drowns some instruments out but here it works. Side note, every time I get to 3:22 on "The Parting of a Neck" I can't help but think of Behemoth. They're nothing like them but I can't get past that part sounding like them! It's not a production for all listeners but I enjoy it. I'm pumped to see them this month with (again) Cattle Decapitation, Atheist, Author & Punisher, and Primitive Man. It'll be intriguing to see where this band goes after the reformation.

Favorite tracks:
-The Parting of A Neck
-The Rope Calls you Brother
-Pain Will Define Their Death (originally off their EP of the same name)
-I Drown Nightly

Technical skill: 85% Originality: 67% Song writing: 64% Production: 89%