Review Summary: "Rareform," the latest release from technical metal legends AFTER THE BURIAL, is one of the premier records of 2008, up with the likes of Misery Signals, Whitechapel, and Emmure.
Today, July 22nd, "Rareform," the latest release from the Twin Cities breakdown architects AFTER THE BURIAL was available in stores. As I rushed to pick up my copy, I found myself praying that my beloved tech-metal brethren would not disappoint me; and disappoint they did not! "Rareform" is one of the top 3 releases of 2008, up there with "Controller" by
Misery Signals and "This Is Exile" by
Whitechapel. Anyways, after was seemed like forever, I arrived at my home and preceded to rush to my stereo system, and so it began...
"Rareform" gets right into it, starting off with "Bezerker," a song that was featured on After the Burial's myspace page for several weeks before the release. 5 minutes and 1,000,000 brain cells later, the second song "Drifts" bursts into with some intense blast-beat action, while vocalist Grant roars with his bear-esque growl. The album continues its music rampage, going into "Cursing Akenaten," which starts off with a faded-in riff, followed by one of After the Burial's signature breakdown, then combining both of these riffs to create a beautiful musical cocktail. In the seconds of silence that follow "Cursing Akenaten," there is immense anticipation, wondering what they will throw at you next. The answer: "Rareform"; the first mellow track on the album, and it's a welcome break for the brutality that has amassed itself in the beginning. Following "Rareform" is the most epic track on the album: "Aspiration." A solo filled song that is still heavy as hell, "Aspiration" is definitely the stand out track on "Rareform." Following "Aspiration" is "The Fractal Effect," which has one of the catchiest riffs on the entire album. The next track, "Ometh," is a fantastic song that is filled with panning solo's from After the Burial's virtuosic guitar players Justin and Trent. The album's closer "A Vicious Reforming of Features" not only stands out because of it's long name, but also because it's one of the heaviest songs on the entire album.
I couldn't decided if I liked the album mix what awesome, or dreadful. You can immediately tell that After the Burial uses 8 string guitars from the unique sound they get out of them. At times, the bass drums and hi-hats can be too loud, drowning out the oddly-mixed snare, and unless you can accomplished sub woofers, you will hear no bass on this album, as a bass guitar tuned to drop-F# sounds like, well, nothing.
On "Rareform," After the Burial changed their sound, but kept the components that make them After the Burial. Many people, like myself, feared the departed of vocalist Nick, but replacement Grant is just as good, if not better, and completes After the Burials sound. After the Burial's 8-string guitars deliver a crushing sound, which is a wholly different experience from the ever-so-trebly "Forging A Future Self." All in all, "Rareform" will be considered one of the premier releases of 2008, and one of the greatest technical metal records of all time.
Recommended Tracks:
"Drifts"
"Aspiration"
"Ometh"
