Neuraxis – Truth Beyond/Imagery/Passage Into Forlorn
Willowtip – 2004
By Adam McAuley
This is an absolutely stupendous package of material from what is currently one of the best young death metal bands in existence. First, you get their masterpiece, Truth Beyond… in its entirety. Then, their previous two full lengths, Imagery and A Passage Into Forlorn all bundled together. Truth Beyond… is brilliant brutal death metal with perfect amounts of melody and technicality woven in for good measure. The drumming is spectacular with perfectly timed fills emanating left, right and center. Guitars are technical, yet streamlined, and often very catchy.
To be honest, the only thing robbing Truth Beyond… from being a total work of art is the vocals of Ian Campbell, which, much like Mike Disalvo of local band Cryptopsy, are competent, but out of place for the style of music being performed. But when you have brilliantly addictive riffs like those in “Impulse”, this is just a small flaw to overlook in the overall outcome of things. Occasional acoustic interludes break up the almost endlessly varied and layered music. Imagery and Passage Into Forlorn are of similar style, but perhaps a bit more straightforward, and contain slightly worse production.
Expect a futuristic aura, tons of variety and constant enjoyment throughout all three albums. It’s difficult to describe, but Neuraxis have pinned down a distinct sound that many bands could only dream of having. People may want to compare them to Cryptopsy, but their music seems more well thought out and structured as a whole to me, with a fine ear for melody and innovation. Truth Beyond… is spectacular and the other two albums offered are almost as good. Everyone needs to hear these guys. Highly recommended.
9+/10 for Truth Beyond…
8.5/10 for Imagery
8.5/10 for Passage Into Forlorn
Official Willowtip website
Official Neuraxis website
Willowtip – 2004
By Adam McAuley
This is an absolutely stupendous package of material from what is currently one of the best young death metal bands in existence. First, you get their masterpiece, Truth Beyond… in its entirety. Then, their previous two full lengths, Imagery and A Passage Into Forlorn all bundled together. Truth Beyond… is brilliant brutal death metal with perfect amounts of melody and technicality woven in for good measure. The drumming is spectacular with perfectly timed fills emanating left, right and center. Guitars are technical, yet streamlined, and often very catchy.
To be honest, the only thing robbing Truth Beyond… from being a total work of art is the vocals of Ian Campbell, which, much like Mike Disalvo of local band Cryptopsy, are competent, but out of place for the style of music being performed. But when you have brilliantly addictive riffs like those in “Impulse”, this is just a small flaw to overlook in the overall outcome of things. Occasional acoustic interludes break up the almost endlessly varied and layered music. Imagery and Passage Into Forlorn are of similar style, but perhaps a bit more straightforward, and contain slightly worse production.
Expect a futuristic aura, tons of variety and constant enjoyment throughout all three albums. It’s difficult to describe, but Neuraxis have pinned down a distinct sound that many bands could only dream of having. People may want to compare them to Cryptopsy, but their music seems more well thought out and structured as a whole to me, with a fine ear for melody and innovation. Truth Beyond… is spectacular and the other two albums offered are almost as good. Everyone needs to hear these guys. Highly recommended.
9+/10 for Truth Beyond…
8.5/10 for Imagery
8.5/10 for Passage Into Forlorn
Official Willowtip website
Official Neuraxis website
