Allegaeon - Fragments of Form and Function

TRACK LISTING

1.  The Cleansing
2.  The Renewal
3.  Across the Folded Line
4.  The God Particle
5.  Biomech - Vals No. 666
6.  From Seed to Throne
7.  Atrophy of Hippocrates
8.  Point of Disfigurement
9.  A Cosmic Question
10.  Accelerated Evolution

Total playing time:  53:41

July 3, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

Metal Blade’s roster has been made all the better with the addition of Colorado’s Allegaeon (uh-legion), a technical progressive death outfit that unleashes a sonic fury that serves as a much-needed shot in the arm to the scene. It seems the best metal from the States is coming out of the western part of the country these days.

The sledgehammer blow to the sternum is felt on tracks like “Atrophy of Hippocrates,” “The Cleansing,” and “Across the Folded Line,” from the band’s debut full-length Fragments of Form and Function. The music from these guys is like a repetitive jackhammer on a construction site with its caustic volume and tempestuous ring from five very talented individuals. What also set me high on these guys was that their brilliant self-titled EP was produced by a man named Dave Otero, who also worked on Martriden’s Encounter the Monolith CD, which is pretty amazing! These guys are on the proverbial “watch” list for up-and-coming talent in the U.S. for good reason. Every song on here is one of tremendous power and style, harkening a Nevermore-like sound in spots with expert musicianship that is making it harder and harder to worry about the future of the metal community. In fact, “Atrophy of Hippocrates” would probably make Jeff Loomis stop and take serious notice.   

Fragments rushes through the sound system with all of the subtlety of a Kansas storm in summer, yielding to nothing and certainly showcasing the enormity of the band’s talent. If the technical death metal medium needs a kick in the lower back to get in the door, Allegaeon is the band to do just that. Drummer Jordan Belfast is truly unrelenting (see “Biomech - Vals no. 666” for reference), supplying some solid, precise drumming. As for the rest of the band, vocalist/lyricist Ezra Haynes has the veiled growl down pat, somewhat reminiscent of early Carcass, making it interesting and easy to dig on all levels of your particular death metal vocal preference. Guitar virtuoso Gregg Burgess is classically-trained with skills that are as undeniable as they are multitudinous. Filling out the roster is equally shredding guitarist Ryan Glisan and bassist Corey Archuleta, whose wall of sound is also nicely-produced to an audible degree. The five of these guys together, like Dream Theater, make for one hell of a heavy metal machine.

What these guys have here is true technical death metal the likes of which can never really be found in such a pure form in the current day, which is sad for the historical aspect but terrific when a band like this comes around and shatters the stagnancy of the art form. Much like Death, Allegaeon has that classic sound that can appeal to deep-seated death metal fans, grind fans, speed, thrash, progressive, the list is long and varied. I cannot espouse the virtues of this band enough; this album is going to make a ton of noise for Metal Blade, as well it should! I have to say, this is probably one of the best bands on the label, if not the best in the newer stable of acts. I’ll definitely be turning on a few people to these guys.
When I was young and would see the Metal Blade label on an album I just knew it would be damn good, and Allegaeon is part and parcel with that history as I approach middle age. I’m proud to be a part of this medium when a band like this surprises and moves me with its music.

It’s a great feeling. 

Release Date: July 20, 2010
Label: Metal Blade Records

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