Assault celebrates their 5th year of existence this year, marked by the release of their debut studio release,
The Exceptions of the Rebellions EP. Having been playing covers for a number of years now, the band finally started displaying their original pieces at recent shows, greatly reducing the number of covers included in their setlist and replacing them with numbers from their debut EP.
Before I start the review proper, perhaps it is best that I declare that I am not particularly a fan of melodic death metal, so pardon my lack of comparisons (or the mismatching comparisons).
Having already heard the band performing renditions of the tracks live before, expectations on the EP were certainly high, and the band does not disappoint. The EP opens with
Subversion, with a melodic riff hitting the listener immediately, a declaration of what to expect for the rest of the EP. Songs like
War On Humanity certainly sound better live, with the band reeking of energy during live performances yet somehow sounding restrained on the studio version.
Assault also displays their versatile songwriting ability. For example, Rebellions
Retribution starts off with a short bass solo, before a lead guitar comes into the picture, playing an emotional guitar line, almost like an ode to the fallen in war (or perhaps in this case, the martyr of the rebels), before breaking into the usual energetic music that
Assault is known for.
Throughout the EP, vocalist Clarence displays his versatility, at times going from a low growl on
Subversion to a high shriek, reminiscent of Arch Enemey's Angela Gossow, such as on Rebellions
Retribution. Shred-fests are commonplace in the songs of
Assault, and guitarist Hanesh proves his ability, hitting every note with clean precision, and punctuating the otherwise boring sections with pinch harmonics. This could however be slightly disadvantageous in some instances as some of the solos end up being too draggy, losing their entertainment value. He also plays with various effects such as the cleans section on opening track,
Subversion, certainly adding to the element of anticipation to the listener. At times when the bass is audible, bassist Syaz displays his prowess through slick bass licks.
Perhaps the only letdown of the EP is the drumming section, handled by ex-drummer Farid. At times it sounds as if he is struggling to keep up with the intensity and energy that is exploding out of the band, and at times unmotivated, such as on
War on Humanity. However, for the most part he manages to keep the band in check of their pace and rhythm.
As such, my pick for the EP would be
Fall of
Obscurity, where the whole band displays their tightness and energy, including at the times when the tempo gets slightly offbeat (perhaps done intentionally by the band), yet the band does not falter and lose their momentum. From the opening lead guitar solo to the slowdown of the tempo in the middle of the song, everything is done right, making this song an enjoyable 4 minute ride with
Assault's best material so far.
Many modern melodic death metal bands nowadays choose to incorporate elements of metalcore into their music, and these influences on
Assault's music (such as breakdowns) are present, there are fortunately not too many of such instances, making
The Exceptions of the Rebellions a good debut effort from the band.
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