Anatomy is the sophomore release from extreme metal supergroup Alkaloid, a band that consists of current and former members of bands like Obscura, Spawn of Possession, Aborted, Dark Fortress, Necrophagist, God Dethroned, Blotted Science and Noneuclid. That's quite the pedigree of technical & progressive death metal, and every inch of this new Season of Mist release lives up to its billing. Alkaloid are comprised of:
Hannes Grossman - drums
Christian Munzner - guitars
Linus Klausenitzer - bass
Danny Tunker - guitar
Morean - vocals, guitar
"Kernel Panic" kicks things off in almost 90125 Yes fashion, the layers of vocal melodies echoing prog rock style counterpoint before the heavy riffs and blazing lead guitar come into play, the death metal growls then making their presence known. Pure technical death metal bludgeons the listener with "As Decreed By Laws Unwritten", the riffs massive, the drums blasting, eventually giving way to the dizzying strains of "Azagthoth", guitars & bass flying all over the arrangement with a mix of djent, death metal, prog, and fusion, the vocals alternating between clean & growling hatred. This is pure complex headbanging folks!
Alkaloid dive into pure progressive rock & metal bliss on the enchanting "Liquid Anatomy", part Cynic and part Opeth, while their experimental side again comes out on "In Turmoils Swirling Reaching", technical passages colliding with metal bombast as well as jazzy interludes, the vocals again alternating in their intensity, and the guitars, bass, and drums spellbinding. "Interstellar Boredom" might be the heaviest track here, but it's also the most one-dimensional, however, it's quickly forgotten with the final two cuts, the near death/grind of "Chaos Theory and Practice", a chaotic, boiling maelstrom of frantic technical metal arrangements and spacey interludes, and of course the near 20-minute closer "Rise Of The Cephalopods". On the latter, the band once again showcase their experimental prog side, layering in lush acoustic guitars and a myriad of vocal styles amid the heavy metal bombast, the band channeling Opeth, Rush, early Metallica, Fates Warning, and Cynic. The lead guitar on this one alone is worth the price of admission!
If you haven't guessed by now, Liquid Anatomy is a powerhouse of an album from a band with a crapload of talent, and you'd be well advised to investigate this one immediately.
Track Listing
01 Kernel Panic 5:42
02 As Decreed By Laws Unwritten 8:09
03 Azagthoth 5:38
04 Liquid Anatomy 5:13
05 In Turmoil's Swirling Reaches 6:38
06 Interstellar Boredom 5:06
07 Chaos Theory And Practice 8:31
08 Rise Of The Cephalopods 19:41
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
