Review Summary: Haunting soundscapes, delicious sweeps, crushing rhythms, adequate songwriting - everything you need.
Assemble the Chariots are a Finnish band who started their adventure in 2012 with the album
The Sulphur Voids, which could be described as a blend between deathcore and symphonic black metal. Where do you go from there? There are several ways to improve upon such a formula, but few readily apparent. Since the guys from Assemble the Chariots have considerable talent for assimilating other styles and mixing them into their own - they've found an answer.
World Architects was being released piecemeal, one song at a time, with the final track being released today, on the 1st of August. That meant the listeners have been able enjoy 2/3 of the little EP for quite some time, but only now can it be judged as a complete product. So what is this formula the band has devised that has produced such astounding results?
The answer is eclectism, originality and ingenuity. The former deathcore/black metal hybrid has been converted into something that makes this description sound trivial. Extensive futuristic electronic backgrounds have been added bringing forth a different kind of dark mood - rather than the ominousness of pure black metal, this time the atmosphere is more akin to dark space doom and theatrical symphonic metal such as Ovid's Withering. The electronic and symphonic parts seamlessly underline the unrelenting syncopated chugs accentuated beautifully with the kickdrum. Much like before, there are also several all-out symphonic blast beat laden lack metal moments interspersed here and there, though they only serve to build the current spacey atmosphere the band is aiming for, aided by the omnipresent symphonic embellishments.
Another thing that draws one's attention are the prolific sweep leads used both as backgrounds and in the forefront several times throughout the album. These are almost a direct tribute to what's found on
The Discovery by Born of Osiris and every bit as well-played. All three songs are full of those tasty arpeggio sweeps, which probably makes them the most distinct element of the band's sound.
Overall the EP is a huge improvement over their previous, and probably the cream of the crop when it comes to midtempo syncopated djenty songs. This here album is the real deal, it's as good as they get. Highly recommended for all fans of this new eclectic offshoot of music pioneered by Ovid's Withering - despite the cataclysmic visions of
World Architects' lyrics, the future is looking very bright.
