July 19, 2013

Astomatous - The Beauty of Reason (2011)

First things first: listen to The Beauty of Reason on Bandcamp.

I'm sure most metal fans are at least aware of Krallice.  For reasons that are unclear to me, the band is quite divisive and usually inspires negative commentary.  Their rhythm section has been active in the past, including this album.  Originally released in 2006 and re-released with new artwork in 2011, I can safely say that this is the best death metal I've heard from 2006, 2011, and 2013.

Obviously, that is a bold claim.  But by no means is it without merit.  Astomatous' music hits me in a way that most death metal doesn't.  In addition, their approach isn't typically brutal, technical, or progressive, even though all three of those words are apt descriptors of their music.  The Beauty of Reason doesn't stretch out to the epic lengths that many Krallice songs do, but there are points of comparison between the two bands.

One notable difference is drummer Lev Weinstein's activity behind the kit.  He doesn't hold back on this record; he's driving the songs forward just as much as the guitarists.  The drums often change the feel of a track, even though the techniques being used aren't all that different from other death metal drummers.

The first three tracks have the best riffs on the record.  But the most intriguing moment might be the bass/violin duel that closes "Convergence".  It's something that just isn't heard in death metal.  There is a higher amount of creativity here and it's not mere parlor tricks.

The album closes with "Sands", a track that teases a straight-forward riff a couple times before ending with it full-out.  It's my favorite song on the record because that riff is so infectious.  Riffs like that end up defining albums for me, and this one is no exception.

The Beauty of Reason is an excellent example of what happens when a great rhythm section employs a number of talented guitarists.  Cerebral death metal that is unfortunately all too rare.

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