Boundaries
Death Is Little More


4.3
superb

Review

by Mike Kaplan STAFF
March 30th, 2024 | 278 replies


Release Date: 03/29/2024 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Life doesn’t give anything that time won’t reclaim.

If you have any doubts about Death is Little More, go listen to the transition from “Darkness Shared” to “Like Petals from a Stem.” Aside from the fact that the latter is easily the most unhinged track on the record, that transition is the kind of moment that epitomizes why Death is Little More is worth a spin (or two, or three). This album is a crossroads of meticulous technicality, hyperbolic heaviness, and hauntingly intense melodies, all while seamlessly paying tribute to the titans that helped define the genre in the 2000s. It chugs, it riffs, it screams like a violent maniac, and it’s an absolute thrill to listen to.

From the very first seconds of the opener—“Turning Hate into Rage”—it is evident that Boundaries have not forgotten how to make music that is mind-numbingly heavy, but as the song segues from an introductory breakdown into an opening riff reminiscent of Killswitch Engage or As I Lay Dying, Boundaries evoke a sort of timeless appeal that impeccably blends into their songwriting. While I would normally consider such an effort lazy at best and horrid at worst, this nostalgia-driven “classic” feel only makes the album only more endearing. Furthermore, this theme is a sort of underpinning for the record, which takes creates a balance between the “mathy” elements of their songwriting and the seemingly never-ending (and seemingly always kick-ass) breakdowns.

Despite the relatively short runtime of the record (thirty-three minutes), the album is positively brimming with memorable moments—from that groovy riff in “Scars on a Soul and the hauntingly beautiful guitar solo in the eponymous “Death is Little More, to the moment in “Easily Erased” when the song crescendos only to halt in a moment of silence while Tim Sullivan sings, “Will you break all the promises that you made?” All of these traits coalesce in “Blame’s Burden,” which aside from featuring a stellar spot from Marcus Vik, contains the best showcase of the melodic elements of this album. It never feels onerous or annoying though, and is more likely to leave you with a stupid grin on your face more than anything else from the pure fun of it.

Aside from that, have I also mentioned how punishingly brutal, batsh*t insane, holy-f*ck-hang-onto-your-pants this album also is? To start with, Matt McDougal gives the performance of a lifetime. He goes from angst-ridden, to furious, to maniacal and everything in between. Coupled with his vocal performance is a tour-de-force of focused insanity, including blast-beat laden tracks like “A Pale Light Lingers” and “Scars on a Soul” and hair-raisingly nasty breakdowns on every damned track in the record. The album puts the listener in a furious chokehold from the very first second right until the end.

Do I lament the notable absence of some of the more technically ambitious features of their last album? Sure. It’s also a bit over the top and does sometimes feels a bit mushed together, but those are minor qualms in an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable experience. If you like your metalcore fast, heavy, and undeniably fun, listen to this record. If you don’t, well that sucks—because you’re missing out.



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user ratings (186)
3.7
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Manatea
Staff Reviewer
March 30th 2024


2072 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

Zit-popping boy-disastercore review number 2



The jazz folk is coming I swear.





Sick album

Hawks
March 30th 2024


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Just finished jamming this. Fucking sick stuff.

Digging: Black Curse - Burning in Celestial Poison

JeetJeet
March 30th 2024


12430 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

First track kinda reminds me of Chamber a lil bit

Digging: Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal

JayEnder
March 30th 2024


21129 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Album absolutely crushes

Digging: Tyler, the Creator - Chromakopia

FowlKrietzsche
Contributing Reviewer
March 30th 2024


1919 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

Overcast by overwrought self-seriousness but some of the riffs are indeed sick

JayEnder
March 30th 2024


21129 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

My main man Mike pulling through with the review, hell yes.



Opening three songs on this are absolutely nuts, also the tasteful cleans and subtle melodic sections really elevate this to new heights. Cursed to Remember is so damn good.

onionbubs
March 30th 2024


22172 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

opener on this is nuts. cool album. cursed to remember is also dope, albeit w some hella out of place cleans, but once it gets going its there



kinda not into marcus's feature unfort tbh but its okay. i think im just prejudiced against anything that isnt him nonstop doing lows so it is perhaps more of a me problem

Manatea
Staff Reviewer
March 30th 2024


2072 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

I really liked Marcus’ feature but that’s okay, to each his own.



Also Jay I got it done tonight specifically for you < 3

artificialbox
Contributing Reviewer
March 30th 2024


2662 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Yeaahahh lets go! nice rev Manatea

Digging: Elias Ronnenfelt - Heavy Glory

JayEnder
March 30th 2024


21129 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

The anticipation was killing me haha, but you certainly did this justice. Well done buddy :]

Manatea
Staff Reviewer
March 30th 2024


2072 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

I think I listened to it 4 times in a row. Did I mention that like petals is bananas? So good

JayEnder
March 30th 2024


21129 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

NOT MUCH TO SAY



WHEN YOU STARE DEATH IN THE FAAACEEEEEE

JayEnder
March 30th 2024


21129 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Petals is absolutely batshit insane

JayEnder
March 30th 2024


21129 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

TOO MANY YEARS SPENT



FEELING FUCKING WORTHLESS

JesperL
Staff Reviewer
March 30th 2024


5664 Comments

Album Rating: 2.7

okokok will try again w this, on first listen i rly didn't vibe with the vocals fsr

Hawks
March 30th 2024


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Vox slay ahrd.

JayEnder
March 30th 2024


21129 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

[2] Matt sounds like a lunatic on this

FearThyEvil
March 30th 2024


18806 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

I swear to god there's another metalcore or sludge type band that has vocals that sound eerily similar to this.

JesperL
Staff Reviewer
March 30th 2024


5664 Comments

Album Rating: 2.7

yeah i fw screamy boi but the cleans feel like they actively detract from the quality/effectiveness of these songs :[

FearThyEvil
March 30th 2024


18806 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

I find this to be painfully generic! There is great moments here and there but they're completely contrasted by the endless desire for this band to implement needless chugging. The cleans are indeed distracting and quite cringy.



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