The band also covered Rush’s “Subdivisions”, and it highlights the range that new vocalist Riley McShane brings to the band. There are sections where the two indulge in shred-fests, like in “All Hail Science”, but everything is compact, well thought-out and intelligent. Park doesn’t overplay (Not overplaying on a death metal record? The blasphemy!), and it’s quite obvious why ‘Proponent for Sentience’ sounds so damn good –the rhythm section, with him and Corey Archuleta on the bass, is the unsung hero of Allegaeon’s sound. “Of Mind and Matrix” is another memorable track.īurgess’ unique solos are all over the record, and like Stancel, the two guitarists lay down heavy, crushing riffs that are followed immaculately by Brandon Park’s drumming. Also, Greg Burgess’ classical guitar pops up in songs like “Gray Matter Mechanics – Appassonata Ex Machinea” but everything gels well –the band has its winning formula already. Michael Stancel can eat sandwiches while playing the solos, but the layman has to be satisfied with a good sandwich and shouldn’t attempt the scary things Stancel does on the fretboard. The band must admit to using eight-string guitars, and the new album is less intricate than their previous efforts, but this doesn’t mean the songs are easy to play. Allegaeon showed everyone a middle finger, metaphorically of course, and went technical melodic death sandwich metal. Sure, some bands have done it, but how often does it turn out well? Not often.
It’s not often that a band takes a step back from their heavier, more brutal roots and turns their music into something balanced. In a metal scene where bands are getting faster, guitars have more strings, and drummers grow extra limbs, Allegaeon is having none of it.
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