Search - Burn in Silence :: Angel Maker

This is great for your blood pressure...

blastbeatworshipper | NM | 07/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent metalcore release with an outstanding production. Just started blasting it yesterday, but I heard some elements of A DOZEN FURIES and FEAR FACTORY in some of the songs. Pretty brutal though, it really doesn't let up in ferocity. Vocalist sounds really really pissed off. Definately a great buy, worth every penny!!!!"

(3.5 stars) Flawed, but still enjoyable

A. Stutheit | Denver, CO USA | 01/29/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When recording their debut, this year's "Angel Maker," Burn In Silence, obviously didn't overly concern themselves with changing the face of music or reinventing metalcore as we know it. Still, this Boston-based deathcore/blackened-metalcore sextet do deserve a substantial amount of credit. Most of "Angel Maker" stacks up as well or better than the majority of metalcore released in 2006. It's a tight, punchy, sharp, crisp, hooky, vitriolic, inspired, offensive, and relevant effort which can be even kind of refreshing to listen to.



So what's the secret to this success? Simple: Crushing heaviness. These ten tracks and 38-minutes of thrashy, mean, punishing, forceful, driving, skull-cracking American metalcore have been influenced by numerous other heavy music sub-genres (for example, it's instantly noticeable that many areas here are heavily shaded by Middle-Eastern black metal). Make no mistake, folks: This sure ain't a run-of-the-mill metalcore release, and Burn In Silence aren't your typical Killswitch Engage knock-off! Overall, this record is a remarkably harsh, meaty, dissonant, noisy, and chaotic assault.



The first thing you'll notice about this album will probably be the drummer's insistent (and nearly constant) use of blast beats. But the next thing you should notice is that these songs are busy, airtight, and blistering musicianship. These songs are usually very muscular and bristle with almost everything heavy, including smashing, raw-sounding, carnage-inducing drum beats, thunderous, booming rhythms that ring like huge steel doors being slammed shut, deeply grumbling bass lines, and huge, bludgeoning guitar chops that weigh over a ton. All told, listening to "Angel Maker" is like being beaten over the head with a 2X4 until you're knocked out.



"Lines From An Epitaph" is a fierce, nearly deafening set opener that sports scorching riffs and skull crushing double bass kicks (seriously, the drummer's trapkit must be in splinters by the end of this song). Next up, "Rebirth," which evokes the sound of a heard of bison falling off a cliff, gets in the listener's face and smacks you around with chunky, punching, cascading power chords and machine gun drums. The next two cuts, "The Age In Which Tomorrow Brings" and "Embrace The Plague," counterbalances devastating heaviness with gentle melody. Both songs are highlighted by impeccable, ultra-fast, Black Dahlia Murder-worthy blasting, cast-iron riffs, and earthquake rhythms (plus, the latter track also a killer, ultra-brutal ending); but they also both feature catchy, tuneful choruses (where dreary clean vocals come onto the scene), briefly used keyboards, and even (what sounds like) an choir in the background. Other highlights include the title song (quite possibly the best track on the record), which is backed by a catchy, staccato rhythm, punching guitar hooks, slamming drums, almost monstrous vocals, scalding energy, and an irresistible momentum build-up, and the crushing, Nile-esque jackhammer ferocity and cool piano outro of "Watching Dead Leaves Fall."



Unfortunately, not all of the album can be as inspiring. For one, three tracks near the end ("Judging Hope," "Well Adjusted," and "World of Regret,") tack on annoying clean vocal refrains. Some of the tracks on here successfully balance aggression and melody, but these songs just seem excessive, trite, and watery. Next, as effective as the guitar work may be, it often seems a bit simple and minimalist (the drummer, who is clearly the focal point here, is much more inspiring and upstages the guitarist.) And, even without those two flaws, there are a few other deathcore/blackened-metalcore bands/discs that you should invest your time and money on before you pick this album up (Lamb of God's "Sacrament" and Devildriver's "The Fury of Our Maker's Hand" being two excellent examples.)



Nevertheless, it's impossible to be too harsh on this album, because this reviewer is (and most metalheads will be) willing to forgive a couple of cliches and a lack of jaw-droppingly great songwriting for energy this gripping, and music this tight and meaty. So, "Angel Maker" may be an imperfect, and less-than-groundbreaing album, but it still makes for many enjoyable headbanging sessions all the same. A recommended listen."

Best metalcore yet

A. Stutheit | 01/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"E. Chon "Megadestructo" is just stupid. First off, that is the dumbest name I've ever heard. Second, he says that it is a catchy cd and it's been done before, so he gives it a 2. WHO CARES IF IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE! WE'RE NOT RATING A CD ON IT'S ORIGINALITY! Almost everything's been done before. If you like a cd, then give it 5 stars. Rate a cd on how much you like it not how many times it's been done before.



Overall, the basic breakdown of the music on this cd has been done before: it works, it sounds amazing, and a lot of people like it (that might be why many bands are doing it now. DUUUHHHHHH!!! Next time think "Megadestructo"). Anyways, this cd is simply amazing. It's very heavy, but the music flows smoothly so it's easy to listen to. They also have a lot of talent and I'm expecting great things from them in the future."