Maryland-based 187 Records is another label that seems to have an interesting roster as well as a flare for eye-catching graphic design work, and "Libretto", the debut EP from California's Rise of Caligula, caught my ear with its diverse brand of technical metalcore—which fuses an array of more jarring and chaotic influences with pummeling death metal riffs and powerfully discordant atmospheres. I tend to be incredibly picky about these particular types of more contemporary metalcore, but Rise of Caligula keeps things tightly wound with seven tracks in about 20 minutes, and efficiently blends their influences in a manner that keeps things interesting. Rather than blaze through loads of fast-paced noodling and blurs of riffs, they keep the explosive bursts of unhinged riffing under control with the chunkier death metal aspects, and the slower, more tangible elements switch it up from meaty, breakdown-oriented rhythms to more melodically textured fare that's actually really fucking killer. And, unlike the vast majority of these bands, they do still break into the occasional power chord run that actually still bears some resemblance to hardcore, which is pretty cool. There's just a good sense of energy overall that really gets the job done. I don't have the lyrics, but the recording and artwork are pretty solid, and I don't really have any complaints here. I'm actually really curious to hear what'll come next, because the more I listen to this the more I realize how much potential they're sitting on. Not bad at all...
Comments
Awesome disc. Sweet review.
8.28.2008 | By J T MONEY