Search - Noumena :: Anatomy of Life

Finnish Death Metal at its Best

misha2707 | 06/23/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finnish death metal band Noumena have delivered a stunning album in Anatomy of Life. It is very difficult to get albums from Noumena in the United States without paying out the wazoo for an import, mostly due the fact that Anatomy of Life was never released in the U.S. It is too bad these guys aren't on a bigger label.



The gutteral growls on this album are fantastic. Clean vocals, while delivered tastefully, are sparse enough so as to not overtake the album. The vocals that define Anatomy of Life are most definitely the growls. This theoretically lets the guitars work their magic in the melody department, which is precisely the way melodic death metal should be done. The hooks and rythms aren't insanely complex, but are still catchy and distinctly Finnish in sound.



I can't quite give this album a perfect rating. At some moments, the cacophony of bass and guitar swell to drown out the harsh growled vocals. At other moments, drum beats seem to miss the rhythm slightly. I thought I was having an error with my CD player at first, but it is definitely the music. This problem only takes place in one or two isolated patches and is not nearly noticeable enough to drop in the realm of four stars.



Anatomy of Life has edge, harshness, burtality, and very well-devised melody. Pick it up if you can find it. I'll give it a 4.5/5 stars, detracting just slightly because of the choppy drum beats. Still, this is an overall wonderful album.

"

Listen and Your Metal Heart Will Finally Be Content

M. Amanuensis Sharkchild | Santa Monica, CA | 06/23/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is unreal--a gem tucked away into the vastness of chaos. There are heavy riffs, soothing melodies, and best of all, a haunting allure that is indescribable. The combining force of the three different vocalists (guttural, male clean, female clean)--blending and dispersing--is like a hurricane of splendid sound, resounding powerfully and purely into ears of a chosen few. The simple yet stunning guitar work tells relic stories that hang in the boundaries of distant realms, opening the mind to see places never known. Every song speaks its peace, but those metal lovers that fail to listen will never rest in peace.



Become one of the few and pick up this album; it must be listened to. I cannot, literally, speak more highly of a band and its music. I listen to Soilwork, In Flames, Scar Symmetry, Mercenary, Kalmah, Darkane, Dark Tranquility, Opeth, Children of Bodom (and more), and yet this band and this album still blazes above them all, cutting to the top of my metal priorities with uncanny resolve. This album is one of my favorite metal albums (of all genres). Do not take what I say lightly.



Sharkchild

Author of The Dark Verse, Volume I: From the Passages of Revenants (Imitation Leather)"