Music: Experimental/Progressive/Symphonic Death Metal
Website: www.xerath.net
Country: UK
Duration: 39:31 (10 songs)
Cool Songs: Right To Exist, False History, Consequences
The band XERATH was founded in 2007 in the UK, and only two years later their debut album I (one) is here. Recognized as the best unsigned act of 2008 by Terrorizer magazine, the band comes with the spirit of MESHUGGAH and orchestral theatrics of DIMMU BORGIR. Sounds quite promising, doesn't it?
But the truth is, this disappointed me the most. Keyboards could have been a perfect enriching element if they actually did something. The harmonic chords they only do sound as if they were added in the loose to the already done album only to gain a more massive sound, with one and only exception in the last song Right To Exist. The sound of the record is then very well comparable to SEPTICFLESH's Communion, with one big difference experienced Septicflesh made the most of it, while Xerath got stuck in a metaphase. There's quite a lot (maybe even too much) of interesting ideas to find on I, unfortunately none of them fully utilized and done. The problem then appears when we try to listen to the album as a whole. As well as Michal Pitman's vocals the album appears static, and although the genre XERATH play could be rated as progressive metal, it ironically doesn't progress at all.
This all made me come to the conclusion that XERATH have undertaken more than they can handle. Technically very capable band was just trying to explore all possibilities instead of focusing on a few more important elements.
Despite it I have to point out that my rating is greatly affected by my way too big expectations. I is definitely superior to what we can expect from a relatively inexperienced band playing together for 2 years only. And I believe that with their next record, the things they dived head first into and couldn't then dig out of them, will turn into a great advantage.
note: 5,5/10
Tracklist
1. Intrenity
2. Alterra
3. Nocturnum
4. Consequences
5. Interlude
6. False History
7. Abiogenesis
8. Reform Part I
9. Reform Part II
10. Right To Exist
Line-up
Richard Thomson – Vocals
Owain Williams – Guitars
Nik Wolf – Bass
Michael Pitman – Drums
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