Augury Fragmentary Evidence |
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 | Tracklist:
1. Aetheral
2. Simian Cattle
3. Orphans of Living
4. Jupiter to Ignite
5. Sovereigns Unknown
6. Skyless
7. Faith Puppeteers
8. Brimstone Landscapes
9. Oversee the Rebirth
| Ranking: #101 for 2009 | |
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On 52 Lists
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| Summary: A well composed Viking/Death Metal act |
2 of 5 thought this review was well written
In my recent forays into the more experimental/progressive side of heavy metal, I have come across many...distinct bands. One of which is Augury, a Viking/Death Metal band on Nuclear Blast records.
Going into the album based on the iTunes samples, I was wholly expecting a technical death metal band to kick in, largely due to the very present bass guitar. I wasn't completely wrong, the opening track "Aetheral" opens up with heavy riffs and excessive tremollo picking. Around halfway through "Simian Cattle," however, I was introduced to the Viking metal aspect of the group. Around this time the vocals shifted from a rather powerful death growl into a, chant?
Yes, the band goes from death metal to viking chants on the fly. But what is so damn impressive about this is that it actually both enhances the atmosphere and has no awkward transitions. The instrumentals quickly and easily accomplish the task of shifting gears, especially the drummer. Whenever it kicks into the Viking sound, the drum speeds up and the bass steps up to aptly evoke the feel of a Viking raid.
Speaking of the bass, let me get this quickly off my chest, THE BASSIST IN THIS GROUP IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Especially when we first hear him in "Simian Cattle," Dominic Lapointe knows the bass up, down, and sideways. Enhancing both the Viking sounds of some songs as well as the instrumental breaks in the death metal portions, the bassist both keeps the group together and keeps them going. This isn't to say the guitars or drums are bad, not at all. The guitarists have amazing chops here too, able to pull off highly intricate solos and switching time signatures throughout the riffs. The drummer is fantastic too, speeding up and slowing down when necessary to fit the parts of the song. Even better than most drummers is his ability to phrase certain areas of his drumming, increasing and decreasing his volume where appropriate. One of the greatest aspects of this band is when they drop the vocalist and go into a full on instrumental solo, or when they slow down with the instruments to raise the atmosphere that much more.
Now on to the vocalist. As mentioned above, Patrick Loisel has quite an impressive range. His death metal growl is deep and powerful, but has enough range so as not to become monotonous. I don't listen to enough Viking metal to really comment on his viking scream, but it serves the purposes of the album well enough that it works. What's really impressive is the sound in between the death metal growl and the Viking scream, which manages to both create a flow to the vocals and just sounds damn awesome. Oh, one more thing. The song "Brimstone Landscapes" probably has the best clean vocals I have ever heard mixed with an awesome accompanying black metal wail. It's really cool to listen to.
Simply stated, Augury has managed to blend two sub genres of metal, technical death metal and Viking metal, into one cohesive album with a lot of atmosphere and ambition. It takes a bit to adjust to the sound, but once you do, you'll completely be captivated by the craftsmanship of this album.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4
This was a crappy review I did A LONG TIME AGO on my crappy blog. Feel free to approve/condemn/raze as you please. I was just curious how you all would react to it.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
ALBUM ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLZ
Digging: Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards The Daylight | | |
This is one of my death metal favourite albums from 09.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
this album is a giant fuck yes, going to rate it now
Digging: Incantation - Onward to Golgotha Digging: Incantation - Onward to Golgotha | | | Album Rating: 4
Anyone else know any other good Viking and/or Folk Metal bands? The only ones I can get into are this and Eluveitie.
| | | Album Rating: 4
well first of all this isn't viking or folk...check out ensiferum, amon amarth, equilibrium, and blackguard, those are my faves at the moment
| | | Album Rating: 4
This isn't Viking? Not even the chanting parts of this album? Really? Damn...
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
nope this isn't viking. but amon amarth is a good example
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
More like forest
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Band rules live, album is intense
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Didn't know the Vikings went to French Canada. Neither did I know that people had stopped laughing at how inherently silly the term 'Viking metal' is. Neither did I know that there is such a vocal style as a 'Viking scream'.
Still can't figure out whether or not I like this album. It pleases and irritates me in equal measure.
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Wow, I have to check out this album. Sounds interesting. If you are looking for some good viking/folk metal ''krig'' then you should check out Svartsot's both albums and Månegarm's 3 latest releases.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
pretty cool album overall but the chanting vocals are stupid
Digging: Saint Vitus - Lillie: F-65 Digging: Saint Vitus - Lillie: F-65 | | | Album Rating: 4.5
Mentioning Svartsot= win, haven't heard their new album yet though.
| | | Album Rating: 4
So yeah, how about those female vocals in Brimstone Landscapes?
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
So sexy
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mountain metal
Digging: Haunted Shores - Cyclamen/Haunted Shores Split Digging: Haunted Shores - Cyclamen/Haunted Shores Split
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
this is actually pretty good. the bass is gnarly
Digging: Filastine - Loot | | |
tubular
| | | Album Rating: 4
This is the only album by them I have....It is good!
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