Review Summary: Your neighbors are going to hate you...
Michigan metal act I am Abomination, even after losing all but two of their members and essentially becoming the Panic! At The Disco of metal, has a lot going for them. An amazingly skilled guitarist and an amazingly skilled vocalist both with a high degree of song writing prowess have culminated in a sizeable fan base for the band. Their latest offering
Let The Future Tell The Truth, has the band exploring more progressive elements of their unique brand of metal that in no way redefine the band, but do provide another fun metal romp for our speakers to loudly blare from our cars.
Right off the bat newcomers and fans alike should recognize and appreciate the unique sound I am Abomination brings to the table. The highly technical and intricate guitar work meshes beautifully with the 100% clean vocals (no Caleb Shomo here) which in combination with the upbeat vocal melodies creates a poppy-sounding metal extravaganza.
Let The Future Tell The Truth is a continuation of the band’s sound, for better or for worse. In an odd though not bad decision, the record opener doesn’t have the band ripping their way out of the gate as they are quite capable of doing. The restrained intro (for them) you are treated to serves as a testament to the talent the group has as songwriters.
While most records can be either vocally driven or guitar-driven,
Let The Future Tell The Truth is strangely both. Each song goes not as the guitar or vocals go, but as in tandem they both interweave. The guitar is just as technical as always and compliments, in both timing and mood, the vocals extremely well, especially for being so fast. Filling in dead space is the familiar noodling, sweeping, and tapping the band is so well known for. The vocals on the other hand, inch out the guitar as the highlight of the record. While near every fan of metal has at one point in time heard guitar play similar to this, the degree of catchiness exhibited in the vocal arrangement and melodies is top tier. The breakdown in “Hangin’ On” or the entirety of “Retainer Sacrifice” are excellent examples of original, catchy vocals, all being accompanied well by the guitar. Even considering this excellence in vocal delivery and writing, its quickly evident the vocalist has very little range. Throughout most of the record he will stay in his high tenor with heavy use of vibrato. This is indicative of the record as whole as it shows little difference from past records. This comes as curious due to the times when he does bear down and get gritty with his voice, it sounds very good. Even with all the catchiness and technicality it would be a stretch to say the group has
evolved in their songwriting, but their ability to write such a variety of vocal melodies and riffs and stay within their framework is frankly amazing.
Inherent in this skill they possess is the lack of any evolution. I am Abomination could literally have released this album as
To Our Forefathers and vice versa and no one would have complained. Herein lies the band’s major downfall, staying power. As fun and catchy as this album certainly is, one would be hard pressed to dig deeper and find anything else. Nothing in the lyrics nor the music warrants a deep or engaging listen. Much like a summer fling, this record for many people will be used and abused for a week or two and forgotten. Sure once and a while some songs will draw you back for a couple more listens but the novelty the band possesses can wear off quickly depending on your tastes. Despite this,
Let The Future Tell The Truth is one of the quintessential fun metal albums of not only this year but of a couple years. Their lack of evolution can be a thorn for some but hey, if you’re the only one in the sandbox, there’s no reason to play somewhere else right?
