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As They Burn

Aeon's War

Written by: PP on 04/11/2011 05:26:33

As They Burn are a five-piece deathcore band from Paris, France. That's about all there is to say about them and their new album "Aeon's War", because for the next thirty-eight minutes, you're stuck with mind-numbingly generic and average deathcore by the books with little intricacies or variety to offer and absolutely no way of telling them apart from bands like Betraying The Martyrs, Fit For An Autopsy, The Bridal Procession, etc etc etc. So expect lots of chugg-chugg meets modern death metal somewhere near the border where they battle it out without neither coming out victorious. So we'll call it a tie.

However, As They Burn are very competent in their instruments and occasionally seem able to put together an impressive riff and a catchy melody (see: "Bless My Will"), so if the material by the aforementioned bands appeals to you, As They Burn will be right up your alley. Vocalist Kevin Travor has a thick, brutal death metal roar that'll put many vocalists to shame, and much of the content is headbang inducing to say the least. Indeed, it's not within the instrumental prowess wherein lies "Aeon's War"'s problem; deathcore lovers will find plenty to appreciate here left and right. The trouble begins when you take a step back and look at how the record fits with the overall deathcore scene, and when you do that, you'll find it disappearing right into the mass of Chelsea Grins, The Brownings, The Red Shores and countless others currently trying to make a name for themselves within the scene. The originality and quality of songwriting simply does not match a record deserving of a great rating for that fact alone.

And then there's the flip side of the coin. If you're a metal head but think deathcore is equivalent to Taake converting into Christianity, you're likely to leave with similar thoughts as one commenter at rateyourmusic.com: "excrement. - 0.5/5". Me? I'm halfway in between. "Aeon's War" is good for what it is, a straight-forward and by-the-books deathcore album, but it's also one you'll have forgotten about by the time you're unwrapping your Christmas presents.

Download: Bless My Will
For the fans of: Betraying The Martyrs, The Red Shore, Fit For An Autopsy
Listen: Soundcloud

Release date 01.09.2011
Siege Of Amida

Psychoative Green Fairy by As They Burn