Hailing from San Antonio since 2007 is brutal deathcore quintet
Silence The Messenger. They released their debut EP in 2010 called "Buried," which got a fair amount of attention in the underground deathcore scene. Later on, they signed to Standby Records to join the roster of bands such as
Modern Day Escape and
Davey Suicide (A fitting addition indeed). What follows would be the release of the band's first full-length in 2013, "Achilles."
As is any deathcore album, "Achilles" is aggressive and unrelenting in its attack.
Blast-beats and breakdowns galore but aren't overdone, and this is mainly due to the very potent musicianship the band showcases. The vocals showcase a great amount of range, from blood-curdling growls to higher pitches. Their prowess is best shown in "
Endless Suffering" when the range shines at its brightest. On top of that, the guitar and drum work are also very well performed, being crushing and technical at the same time. This album does well in having every hit they land leave bruises, especially in terms of the instrumentation.
On top of the band's impressive performance in delivering musical brutality, it also shows a good sense of speed and dynamic. Fast or slow, this album really knows how to cause a lot of destruction with either a pile driver (The Great
Depths) or a machine gun (
Endless Suffering). All of this results in a deathcore release that will appeal in terms of heaviness and substance.
Landon Tewers, the vocalist of metalcore outfit
The Plot In You, is the man behind the album's production, as well as a fitting guest vocalist for "The Great
Depths." This mixing is actually another nice highlight of the album, putting a lot of emphasis on the atmosphere, surprisingly makes the end product sound even more compelling overall.
The lyrics are about as vehement as you'd probably expect. Although not entirely groundbreaking, the lyrical content does manage to give an interesting twist to some of the tracks. Hence the album's title "Achilles," a couple of the songs' lyrical content is influenced by Greek mythology, which is tied into the band's hateful themes. The best example of this would be "
Sirens," which connects half-bird, half-lady creatures with the concept of deception. Overall, the lyrics do have an interesting way of delivering their spiteful messages.
The music's well-crafted balance between brutality and complexity and the great instrumentation and production are ultimately what make "Achilles" so enjoyable. It's nothing too fresh, but the way this album carries out its brutal formula is very well done. "Achilles" may keep the noses of the jaded in the air, but that doesn't stop it from being a potent effort worth listening to.
Originally posted on: http://metaljerky.blogspot.com
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