Brutally Short #5: Tombs, Killswitch Engage, Moon Tooth, The Algorithm

 

Tombs - All Empires Fall (Relapse)

Killswitch Engage - Incarnate (Roadrunner)

Moon Tooth - S/T (Self-Released)

The Algorithm - Brute Force (FiXT Music)

Tombs - All Empires Fall (Relapse)

It may have been released on April 1, but rest assured that the new EP from Brooklyn's Tombs is no joke. This release represents a band that's both in transition and at a cumulative peak. Introducing a brand new member, keyboardist/vocalist Fade Kainer, to the mix, the band's brand of grungy black metal has been further solidified with All Empires Fall. While there are only five tracks, each one concisely delivers the elements that make Tombs a great band. Raspy, yet very deep, growls are constantly matched with equally in-your-face walls of blasting drums and driving guitars. What makes All Empires Fall a particularly fun listen, however, is how all of these aforementioned elements are in no way overwrought; which leads me to believe Tombs would almost be better off as a band that released EPs exclusively. With the exception of 2011's Path of Totality, Tombs' full lengths tend to have one amazing half and one comparatively lackluster half. All Empires Fall, though, proves that Tombs can release a smaller sampling size of tracks that can collectively knock it out of the park.

- Mick

Killswitch Engage - Incarnate (Roadrunner)

Cautious optimism; it's a cruel fate that most of our gateway bands ensnare us into. Despite being far removed from that particular point in time, we desperately yearn for those days of yore when a given band was paving the way in defining new limits of a given sub-genre. If you were to now ask any fan who began their metal journey in early high school (aka me), Killswitch Engage would be a common answer for this portrayal. The combo of Alive or Just Breathing and The End of Heartache are albums that are still largely celebrated for their impact on the scene, but alas, we are 10+ years removed from then. What we have here in the now is Incarnate. Coming off of the band's return to form, 2013's Disarm the Descent, Incarnate unfortunately puts an abrupt halt on any head of steam the band had going. This isn't to say that the album is unlistenable, it's just mostly forgettable. Album opener "Alone I Stand" along with other tracks like "Strength of the Mind" and "Embrace the Journey...Upraised" present a slew of catchy hooks worthy of multiple re-listens, but the rest of the album falls short in captivating much, if any, attention.

- Mick

Moon Tooth - Chromaparagon (Self-Released)

Moon Tooth; who rose from the ashes of the former Exemption, aims to pick up where that band left off. Releasing their first full length album; Chromaparagon, a burner of an album that finds that sweet spot between the riff rocking of Queens of the Stone Age and the aggression and song structures of Mastodon. This latter part of this sound is evidenced at the beginning of the album's opener 'Queen Wolf'. Guitarist Nick Lee (who most recently cut his teeth with NY heavy metal veterans Riot V) continues his growth as a musician and can bend riffs with the best of them. 'Little Witch' sounds like something off of either Rated R or Songs for The Deaf, with Homme-ian pace and precision. John Carbone's vocals soar and at times he sounds quite a bit like he is channeling his inner Greg Puciato. All in all packed within this 55 minute monster, is an excellent example of what modern metal played right can be. Kudos to Moon Tooth.

- Tom

The Algorithm - Brute Force (FiXT Music)

For anyone who has been searching for heavily electronic-based music that incorporates heavy guitars to create "heavy metal video game themes", your search is over. French one man project The Algorithm delivers just this. The project's first full length, 2012's Polymorphic Code, was pitched to me as a mixing pot of metal, electronica, and dub-step. That didn't (and still doesn't) sound promising on paper, but the album did have a handful of tracks that appealed to me as a fan of video game soundtracks. Octopus4, the follow up to Polymorphic Code, offered more of the same. The newest release, Brute Force, offers a much fuller album experience compared to its predecessors, however. Where the previous two albums were all over the place in terms of experimenting with tons of electronic sequences, Brute Force hones this adventurous ardor into something more cohesive. If you're a fan of heavier music and have a penchant for listening to video game themes in your spare time, you should get a lot out of Brute Force.

- Mick