Review Summary: Metalcore with a side of hip-hop
Diamond Construct has a unique sound to them. While their self-titled LP had a pretty typical, yet catchy, djent/metalcore sound to it, they began to explore an intriguing blend of metalcore and trap style on their
DCX2 EP. With
Angel Killer Zero, the band takes a headfirst dive into the electronic influences, relying on trap-like beats and hip-hop inspired grooves mixed with heavy riffs and breakdowns.
From the opener “Hashira,” the electronic influences are worn on their sleeves as it opens with a heavy riff intertwined with glitches and scratches. “Neon” and “Hell Inside You” follow suit with an intense combination of hip-hop style grooves and djenty licks that give a unique mix of a darker trip-hop and metalcore. These tracks have a surprising chemistry between them as these seemingly clashing styles work perfectly together to create a catchy and fresh sound. “Delirium” and “Jynx” feature some of the most technical riffs of the record with use of harmonics, pitch-shifting effects, and low-tuned grooves that accentuate the electronic atmosphere of the record. Alongside these riffs, tracks like “I Don’t” have guitars so low-tuned that they are almost indistinguishable – and it somehow works. With the hip-hop style production focused on electronic elements, the gravel-y guitar tone complements the sound well with its groove-centric approach. However, there are some moments of melody that shine through the heaviness of
Angel Killer Zero. “Faded” has a massive chorus with a clean vocal passage that floats atop that is accented by the semi-strained vocals in the verses that add to the melodic sound. In a similar fashion, “Clickbait” features rapped vocal passages that have catchy melodies that explode into a groovy chorus with clean singing.
Despite the record’s shorter runtime,
Angel Killer Zero still runs into a bit of a monotony issue. Though all of the songs are catchy in their own right, the style becomes same-y after a while, making the album fairly front-loaded. However, Diamond Construct’s newest album shows them taking a step further into the electronic-infused metalcore style in a unique way compared to others in the scene. Although it has its moments of tediousness,
Angel Killer Zero is full of catchy grooves and hard-hitting riffs that are sure to stick.
