March 24, 2006 | | 3

Through the Eyes of the Dead, Bloodlust

I’ve read a few reviews on this one since purchasing it a couple of months ago and just about every one of them classifies this band as metalcore. While there are melodic instances throughout the album, it’s a bit heavier and more technical than your run-of-the-mill metalcore. I would equate it to Unearth on some back alley steroids. The sound is meaty, crushing, and powerful.

This album is full of big riffs, weighty hardcore style breakdowns, and plenty of intensity. Vocalist Anthony Gunnells has a range similar to Trevor Strnad (The Black Dahlia Murder) with the ability to hit the higher screams as well as the low end growls. Combine that range with the earlier indecipherable screams of A Life Once Lost‘s Robert Meadows and you’ve got something akin to Gunnells’ abilities.

Intro 55 seconds of samples. You can pretty much predict what an album is going contain when the opening track is full of people screaming in horror and panic.

Two Inches From A Main Artery After the near minute of nonsense, a march-like drum roll starts in as a call to arms. Gunnells let’s loose a mild grunt and the mosh kicks in. Having a huge breakdown start off the track really gets the blood flowing. For the most part the music is heavy with melodic elements added here and there to counter the guttural delivery of Gunnells.

When Everything Becomes Nothing A great little timed mosh starts this one off before Gunnells’ screams and growls kick in. This is a pretty damned intense track — speedy thrash and power.

Bringer Of Truth “Bringer of Truth” brings about a more shouted delivery from Gunnells. It’s still deep and guttural but just with more shouted emphasis than screaming. And if death metal drum attacks are your thing, there’s plenty of it here for you.

Beneath Dying Skies This is one of the shorter tracks on the album. It’s also more chaotic and varied as compared to most of the other tracks, including a nice crushing breakdown.

The Black Death And Its Aftermath After four very strong tracks, we find an interlude. I’m not the biggest fan of the death metal acoustic passages, as this is no different. If it’s a quality piece that would be one thing, but to just through in something like this after the momentum as been built up is nothing short of a buzz kill. This is definitely the weakest moment on the album.

Truest Shade Of Crimson Thankfully, the instrumental doesn’t last long before we get curbstomped with precision drumming and beefy riffs. And we are treated to over 6 minutes of it, including a devastating vocal delivery prior to the disjointed spoken word portion.

With Eyes Ever Turned Inward A decent riff and screaming lead into quick blasts from the drummer, Josh Kulick. I will note that his quality drum work is a highlight on this album.

Force Fed Trauma This one starts of fairly slowly considering the pace we’ve been moving at thus far. A soaring guitar riff starts us off prior to Gunnels causing more damage to his throat.

The Decaying Process A bit more of that altered spoken word delivery begins this track overlaid with reverb and light drumming. This sort of reminds of something Martyr AD did on On Earth As It Is In Hell.

Outro Ooh… static. Waste of time.

I’ll be honest — it took some time for this album to grow on me. I’m not entirely sure why, but I didn’t find myself really appreciating it for the longest time. I can tell you now that it’s a pretty good listening experience. Take out the intro, outro, “The Decaying Process” and the instrumental interruption and you’ve got yourself a decent seven track release. Other than that, pick this one up if you are looking for something a little different in your breakfast metalcore.

Favorite Tracks:
Two Inches From A Main Artery
When Everything Becomes Nothing
Beneath Dying Skies
With Eyes Ever Turned Inward

Additional Notes:
n/a