(Relapse)
So here it is, what we were all kinda wondering about: when Schuldiner-obsessed and -tributing DM crew Gruesome got into their Human phase, could they pull it off? With Silent Echoes, the answer is a resounding yes.
The spiralling technical death flourishes go up the crystal mountain and back down, and opening duo of ragers “Condemned Identity” and “A Darkened Window” hammer that home in a massive but mature way, with melodic soloing and a massive emphasis on a new, all-hands-and-feet-on-deck approach to the drumming, which almost nods more to The Sound of Perseverance than Human. The title track leans a bit more to a more primitive DM, but the sophistication (and the early ’90s vibes) can’t stay away for long.
“Voice Within The Void (Astral Oceans)” is an instrumental that really nails the song-naming thing and also has all the right guitar effects and musical dynamics, and closer “Reason Denied” shows control over melodies as well as the icy, labyrinthine death metal the album delivers through all eight songs. Well done. Well done all around: these tunes have everything that made the Human era great, with a slick, flawless execution, big grooves, tons of tech stylings, and a very unique technical death metal approach.
Now, with Gruesome, “very unique” is not at all the idea, quite the opposite, as this is yet another love letter to a trailblazer, done with care and honour. Can’t wait to see them tackle the Perseverance era; for now, Silent Echoes is my fave Gruesome release yet.
Rating: 8.5
The post REVIEW: GRUESOME’s Silent Echoes – “Another Love Letter To A Trailblazer, Done With Care And Honour” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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