ACROSS THE SUN - Before The Night Takes Us
Submitted by sherivengeance on Tue, 31/05/2011 - 2:46pm
Before The Night Takes Us has been in the making for 7 years, and the hard work has delivered an interesting record, but while Across The Sun isn't breaking new grounds, for what they do, they do it quite well.
They have managed to deliver a solid melodic death album crossing into metalcore, featuring ten anthemic tracks in their own right, utilising state of the art sound production - courtesy of Daniel Castleman at Lambesis Studios [As I Lay Dying, Winds of Plague, and Impending Doom].
With razor sharp precision in the axe work, guitarist Sam Hafer duels it out harmoniously and in perfect synchronicity. The heavy vocal work is generic and I don't want to sound ambiguous stating that "it's good! But still same-y"… however, it is what it is. Big, swooping clean passages interweaved with thick and impassioned mid register melodic death screams, dominate the tenor vocal repertoire, the average call and respond dialogue of the genre.
Albeit the style is known for this particular disposition, one can be heinously reprimanded for ambitious experimentation should it go awry. Yet, it would be a refreshing change to hear a different vocal approach from time to time.
Still, Brandon Davis' melodic vocals are absolutely stunning and their full potential and power shine on the track 'Seasons'. The piano/synth accompaniment is a luxurious touch to this emotional track. The downfall of the piece is the low register, death vocals in the bridge - unnecessary and they really do not do anything for the song.
'Descent and Discovery' is the 4th track on the CD, and is a truly wondrous composition - consider it the "ballad" of the release. It's mid paced, with just enough shred to enhance the sound rather than dominate. The piano/synth outré is an elegant touch to end the song, before the fast and catchy track 'Ghost of Grandeur'. This track offers an Americanized NWOHM [New Wave of British Heavy Metal] riff/solo/breakdown structure. The title track swoops in with orchestrated symphonic keys and a rhythm section you could two-step to.
Stand out elements are the clean vocals and classical piano accompaniments.
Album: Before The Night Takes Us
Release: March 15, 2011
Track List:
- Tipping The Scales
- Song For The Hopeless
- Seasons
- Descent & Discovery
- Ghosts Of Grandeur
- Before The Night Takes Us
- A Moment Of Clarity
- Blessing In Disguise
- In The Face Of Adversity
- Belay My Judgement
Visit: www.myspace.com/acrossthesun
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