Cosmic Horror is the debut full-length from Minneapolis, MN quartet Antiverse. The band's lineup includes drummer Mike Paradise (Threadbare, Seconds Before, Picturesque) and guitarist Carl Skildum (Krakatoa, Threadbare, Seconds Before, Picturesque)—probably my all-time favorite guitarist as far as hardcore/metalcore-related acts are concerned.
But this is metal. Full-on metal. Death metal, even. Nine tracks' worth, crammed into an energetic 37 minutes. If the band name, album title, and cover art didn't make that clear, it's obvious from the start with the "Blackened"-esque harmonies of instrumental intro "Hostile Entities." I suppose there's just enough of a chugging pulse for certain passages to be deemed somehow "-core" (most notably the compact structure and base chord progressions of "The Beast of Bray Road"); but I'd say the dominant characteristics are thrashy, fast-paced rhythms with assorted tinges of melodic Swedish nods, light hints of gnashing black metal with bits of ringing dissonance, and snarling vocals. There's even some (highly unexpected) wailing background singing that borders on a Halford/King Diamond approach!?
Had I not known Carl Skildum was involved, I'm not sure I would've picked up on it, since Antiverse is yet another step aside from his already diverse résumé; but with that knowledge in advance I can definitely latch onto some picking patterns, chord phrasings, and harmonies reminiscent of Krakatoa (see "The Commutator," especially). His overall style and knack for high-quality riffs creatively mix 'n' match recognizable influences into something that's just different enough for the discerning ear to pick up on. And how about that tapping segment midway through "Novamancer"!? Holy "Tornado of Souls," Batman!
The production's fairly thick, and to my ears could use just a hint more clarity, but the longer I listen the more things settle into place. Overall it's nice and heavy, and I really dig the way the bass tone has just enough texture and definition to peek out from behind the guitars. It's great that the drums have some real oomph to 'em, too; so they avoid that overly clinical and clicky sound that so many bands of this ilk tend to utilize these days.
Lyrically the material is centered around (at times science fiction-based) horror concepts. It's not the type of content that I connect with on a personal level, but since everything's intelligently composed I can still get behind it:
Borne upon the wake of a solar wind
A larval spore descends from the heavens
Sleeping metropolis, a meadow of concrete
The darkness conceals the living
And you know a band's not fucking around when they go to the trouble of procuring slick cover art from Pär Olofsson for a digital-only release!
Good stuff. And at just $7 (they'll throw in a killer t-shirt for $5 more) that's less than a buck a track, so... a bargain's a bargain, people!
Get It
- Bandcamp (mp3)
Comments
“Good stuff. And at just $7 (they’ll throw in a killer t-shirt for $5 more) that’s less than a buck a track, so… a bargain’s a bargain, people!”
I agree with that! :) Album artwork really kick ass. Shirt as well.
My only complaint is that I would like to have something in tangible form, like CD or something.
Anyway, I will buy shirt and album for sure. :)
Thanks for another great review and recommendation. Not to mention for your return. :)
4.27.2014 | By CarlosFromAversionline