Review Summary: PRAY FOR GOD! The machines are released! The time has come to hail the dawn of the biomechanical co-evolution.
D.iabolical
N.anotechnological
A.berrancy
Drones of the Awakening is an absolutely kick-ass deaththrash metal record about robots. This release will hopefully put the Italian band Eyeconoclast among the big names. They were actually just this month playing with bands like Cryptopsy, Decreipt Birth and Cattle Decapitation. There is however no relationship between these bands when it comes to the alikeness in music. Eyeconclast plays an extremely aggressive and intense form death/thrash metal. It is somewhat similar to the later Sodom style, but with an even more extreme death feel to it. The technical aspect is, however, very noticeable as well. Drones of the Awakening do not have any progressive elements to it and is therefore not very alike other modern thrash bands such as Vektor.
The drumming is absolutely furious and overall very complex. It is very diverse with sweet fills and a lot of tempo changes. The sound of the drum is very reminiscent to thrash metal, but is played like death metal drums. While being very technical it is yet again nothing you would hear from more progressive bands. The drum production is overall very nostalgic and really reminds you of metal from the nineties. MM Noisetech is the drummer’s stage name which is stupid, but still awesome in a cheesy way.
The guitar playing is just everything you would wish for. Great riff after great riff after goddamn great ***ing riff. They are your usual Deaththrash riffs, nothing new, but immensely satisfying. Certain songs focus more on modern death metal riffs while other songs have a more classic guitar sound. The guitar solos are also fast as hell and they just rock so hard. Drones of the Awakening is still, apart from the extreme, a really catchy album. Many of the choruses are very memorable and certainly “headbangable”. The bass is very good as well, but not very pronounced which is a disappointment.
The vocals are overall good. They consist only of half screams and grunts. The vocalist has, however, an absolutely amazing screech that he uses from time to time. This is yet another thing that enhances the thrashy feeling since there are no growls, just hoarse and raspy screaming.
The intro song Proclaiming from Dead Dimensions has a 15 second long ambient intro with the sound of machinery and a guy getting dissected by fourteen mechanical arms. It is undoubtedly a stand-out track together with the other first five tracks. All songs are worthwhile though which is huge plus. I recommend this to people who like something quite simple, but technical, catchy and just stuff that rocks hard.
