Of Graves and Gods Slit Throat Andromeda
Candlelight Records CDL296 March 7th, 2006
By Jason Jordan
March right in and take a seat because its been about 17 minutes since youve been exposed to any branch of core, and you look like youre in need of a recharge. So if you havent closed your browser, or moved on to another section of our fine webzine, then let deathcore purveyors Of Graves and Gods introduce you to their debut entry, Slit Throat Andromeda. Its pretty good for a first try, but I doubt itll cause much of a stir especially when one factors in all the great core efforts of recent memory. Still I think theres a fair amount of potential here, leaving these gentlemen classifiable as anything but a lost cause.
Though not nearly as brutal as All Shall Perish or Despised Icon, this New Mexico-based group does draw off those above or those of a similar persuasion as well as breakdown-fixated Unearth and others of their ilk to achieve quite a frenetic hybrid. Of Graves and Gods dont bludgeon like their cousins do, though, in spite of the wall of sound they employ. Nevertheless, the musical performances are solid for such a young band, and their overall approach is as thick as mud. Industrial and melodic elements riddle the recording while gruff vocals, near-ubiquitous double-bass, and spiky guitars hold the actual fort down. For the most part, Ive noticed that theres seldom only one style of core on a core release, and the trend continues with Slit Throat Andromedas noticeable metalcore and hardcore tendencies. Scars Make Memories serves as an example of what I just described. Now, songs such as That Which Comes Between Pt. 2 and Internal Holocaust course through a similar vein, but feel much heavier than their counterparts, which increases the worth of Of Graves and Gods by a narrow margin.
Even when touting 11 tracks, or 50 minutes of music if you will, its obvious that they arent going to be kings of the core hill with only a debut. In short, I think they need some more time to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack, and of course improve in the process. Slit Throat Andromeda does indeed surpass numerous efforts Ive heard from far inferior bands, but it doesnt cut the mustard on several counts. As I said, I believe Of Graves and Gods have potential, and I hope it doesnt go to waste. I wish them well, plus happy, uh, deathcoreing.
5.5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Candlelight Records Website
Candlelight Records CDL296 March 7th, 2006
By Jason Jordan
March right in and take a seat because its been about 17 minutes since youve been exposed to any branch of core, and you look like youre in need of a recharge. So if you havent closed your browser, or moved on to another section of our fine webzine, then let deathcore purveyors Of Graves and Gods introduce you to their debut entry, Slit Throat Andromeda. Its pretty good for a first try, but I doubt itll cause much of a stir especially when one factors in all the great core efforts of recent memory. Still I think theres a fair amount of potential here, leaving these gentlemen classifiable as anything but a lost cause.
Though not nearly as brutal as All Shall Perish or Despised Icon, this New Mexico-based group does draw off those above or those of a similar persuasion as well as breakdown-fixated Unearth and others of their ilk to achieve quite a frenetic hybrid. Of Graves and Gods dont bludgeon like their cousins do, though, in spite of the wall of sound they employ. Nevertheless, the musical performances are solid for such a young band, and their overall approach is as thick as mud. Industrial and melodic elements riddle the recording while gruff vocals, near-ubiquitous double-bass, and spiky guitars hold the actual fort down. For the most part, Ive noticed that theres seldom only one style of core on a core release, and the trend continues with Slit Throat Andromedas noticeable metalcore and hardcore tendencies. Scars Make Memories serves as an example of what I just described. Now, songs such as That Which Comes Between Pt. 2 and Internal Holocaust course through a similar vein, but feel much heavier than their counterparts, which increases the worth of Of Graves and Gods by a narrow margin.
Even when touting 11 tracks, or 50 minutes of music if you will, its obvious that they arent going to be kings of the core hill with only a debut. In short, I think they need some more time to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack, and of course improve in the process. Slit Throat Andromeda does indeed surpass numerous efforts Ive heard from far inferior bands, but it doesnt cut the mustard on several counts. As I said, I believe Of Graves and Gods have potential, and I hope it doesnt go to waste. I wish them well, plus happy, uh, deathcoreing.
5.5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Candlelight Records Website
