Per Ardua Ad Astra
10-15-2004, 06:14 PM
Released in 2004 on Willowtip Records
Formed in 2000, Arsis was formed and after four years and two demos, a full length album was finally released in the shape of 'A Celebration of Guilt.' Arsis plays a heavier, more technical style of melodic death than In Flames and other more popular melodic death bands. Shades of black metal are prevalent on this album, along with a brutal side of death metal.
Lineup...
James Malone - Guitars and Vocals
Michael VanDyne - Drums
Justin Shaw - Bass
The opener, The face of my innocence starts off the album with some heavy technical, in your face riffage. Switching flawlessly between faster, brutal riffs and slower riffs with intense drummings, not to mention the occasional slow, melodic riff thrown in there. Everything on this song is top notch. Best song on the album.
The album keeps on in full force with Maddening Disdain, some fast more generic melodic death riffing here, before switching into the verse. The song continues to keep up the speed of track one during this track as well. There is some cool harmony stuff in this song, but other than that, it's a solid track but nothing special.
Seven Whispers fell silent starts off fast and extremely heavy, a real headbanger this one is, switching between real bang your head leads and higher more melodic riffs with no effort at all. Awesome track.
From a heavy track to a more guitar lead track in Return, this song is full of tightly wrapped lead guitar parts and heavy melodic riffs along with intense drumming making for an overall good track. Not to mention the solo in this song is nothing to be overlooked.
The next track, Worship Depraved is more your 'At The Gates' type of melodic death metal, some melodic intro riff and then into a heavier riff for the verse. Though Arsis adds their own twist in with the harmony parts that are prevalent on this album. The solo in this song is also quite good. Solid track here.
Along with Worship Depraved, this next track Carnal Ways to recreate the Heart, there is some more of some more 'Generic' music. They change this though by adding the harmony parts that are all over this album. We also get a change to hear Malones voice without screaming for the first and only time here, if only for a sentence, this part really wasn't necessary. This song is a solid track, some technical riffing and harmony parts. Good stuff.
Dust and Guilt starts off at a low volume and comes in blasting with some nice leads and technical melodic riffs, this middle part of the album has more of a melodic feel than the rest of the album. I absolutely love the lead/solo about halfway through this song, the song continues out with some tight lead parts. Well done track. This intensity is kept up with the next track. Elegant and Perverse, some more heavy, headbanging oriented riffs here along with some short solo action to fit the atmosphere of the music. The solo in this song is short, sweet and to the point leading right into the some lower, heavy and fast riffs for another solo, this one taking more of a melodic style, yet it is very short.
The sadistic motives behind bereavement letters starts off with Malone screaming vocals without any music behind, soon the music comes in, very harmonious with an awesome lead part which essentially carries itself throughout the rest of the song. This song contains some true headbanging riffs as well, along with a nice solo to top off the song, in a part of the solo i even pick up an 'egyptian' sort of feel from the song for a few measures. Awesome track, one of the best on the album.
The next track, Looking to Nothing doesn't really appeal to me, i don't know what it is but i just don't like the feel of this song, other than a few select riffs this song is nothing special, the solo is decent though.
The last track, Wholly Night starts with a music box for all of about two seconds before shooting off into melodic death, brutal hyper mode. Very melodic riffs here along with some awesome leads and a nice solo. The second solo in this song is a rarity among this album because it lasts over 10 seconds. Awesome track.
Strengths...
The chemistry, everything is right on spot on this album. Everything flows effortlessly.
The musicianship here is very good, these guys really know what they are doing when it comes to melody, and harmony.
These guys really can master there instruments, the drummer is an absolute beast, the guitars and bass are all played extremely well.
Weak points...
The harmony parts can get a bit old after a while, they show up in most of the songs. They sound good, but a bit overdone.
The solos are short, apart from the last solo in 'Wholly Night' the solos usually only last about 10 seconds. Sometimes i think they could have gone into a longer, more emotional type solo but they chose to stay brutal.
Overall, 4/5 from me. An awesome album here, brutal yet melodic.
For additional information and mp3 downloads check out www.worshipdepraved.com
Formed in 2000, Arsis was formed and after four years and two demos, a full length album was finally released in the shape of 'A Celebration of Guilt.' Arsis plays a heavier, more technical style of melodic death than In Flames and other more popular melodic death bands. Shades of black metal are prevalent on this album, along with a brutal side of death metal.
Lineup...
James Malone - Guitars and Vocals
Michael VanDyne - Drums
Justin Shaw - Bass
The opener, The face of my innocence starts off the album with some heavy technical, in your face riffage. Switching flawlessly between faster, brutal riffs and slower riffs with intense drummings, not to mention the occasional slow, melodic riff thrown in there. Everything on this song is top notch. Best song on the album.
The album keeps on in full force with Maddening Disdain, some fast more generic melodic death riffing here, before switching into the verse. The song continues to keep up the speed of track one during this track as well. There is some cool harmony stuff in this song, but other than that, it's a solid track but nothing special.
Seven Whispers fell silent starts off fast and extremely heavy, a real headbanger this one is, switching between real bang your head leads and higher more melodic riffs with no effort at all. Awesome track.
From a heavy track to a more guitar lead track in Return, this song is full of tightly wrapped lead guitar parts and heavy melodic riffs along with intense drumming making for an overall good track. Not to mention the solo in this song is nothing to be overlooked.
The next track, Worship Depraved is more your 'At The Gates' type of melodic death metal, some melodic intro riff and then into a heavier riff for the verse. Though Arsis adds their own twist in with the harmony parts that are prevalent on this album. The solo in this song is also quite good. Solid track here.
Along with Worship Depraved, this next track Carnal Ways to recreate the Heart, there is some more of some more 'Generic' music. They change this though by adding the harmony parts that are all over this album. We also get a change to hear Malones voice without screaming for the first and only time here, if only for a sentence, this part really wasn't necessary. This song is a solid track, some technical riffing and harmony parts. Good stuff.
Dust and Guilt starts off at a low volume and comes in blasting with some nice leads and technical melodic riffs, this middle part of the album has more of a melodic feel than the rest of the album. I absolutely love the lead/solo about halfway through this song, the song continues out with some tight lead parts. Well done track. This intensity is kept up with the next track. Elegant and Perverse, some more heavy, headbanging oriented riffs here along with some short solo action to fit the atmosphere of the music. The solo in this song is short, sweet and to the point leading right into the some lower, heavy and fast riffs for another solo, this one taking more of a melodic style, yet it is very short.
The sadistic motives behind bereavement letters starts off with Malone screaming vocals without any music behind, soon the music comes in, very harmonious with an awesome lead part which essentially carries itself throughout the rest of the song. This song contains some true headbanging riffs as well, along with a nice solo to top off the song, in a part of the solo i even pick up an 'egyptian' sort of feel from the song for a few measures. Awesome track, one of the best on the album.
The next track, Looking to Nothing doesn't really appeal to me, i don't know what it is but i just don't like the feel of this song, other than a few select riffs this song is nothing special, the solo is decent though.
The last track, Wholly Night starts with a music box for all of about two seconds before shooting off into melodic death, brutal hyper mode. Very melodic riffs here along with some awesome leads and a nice solo. The second solo in this song is a rarity among this album because it lasts over 10 seconds. Awesome track.
Strengths...
The chemistry, everything is right on spot on this album. Everything flows effortlessly.
The musicianship here is very good, these guys really know what they are doing when it comes to melody, and harmony.
These guys really can master there instruments, the drummer is an absolute beast, the guitars and bass are all played extremely well.
Weak points...
The harmony parts can get a bit old after a while, they show up in most of the songs. They sound good, but a bit overdone.
The solos are short, apart from the last solo in 'Wholly Night' the solos usually only last about 10 seconds. Sometimes i think they could have gone into a longer, more emotional type solo but they chose to stay brutal.
Overall, 4/5 from me. An awesome album here, brutal yet melodic.
For additional information and mp3 downloads check out www.worshipdepraved.com