Antagonist - World in Decline

TRACK LISTING

1.  The Bane of Existence
2.  Sasha Grey
3.  Disguised In White
4.  God On Fire
5.  Wake Up And Smell The Lies
6.  New Human
7.  A Voice Unspoken
8.  Already Dead
9.  Darkest Darkness
10.  World In Decline

Total playing time:  41:05

September 12, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

As a rule, metalcore is far from my personal taste, but when a band comes around and shakes your senses to a level of intense satisfaction you simply have to take notice. Antagonist does that with its fourth full-length World in Decline. The heavy, often tumultuous music is enough to satisfy even the fastest headbanger among us, especially an oldster like myself that simply can’t accept stagnancy in my metal.

With a strong old-school metal feel ala Fight’s War of Words that is especially evident in tracks like “Disguised in White,” World in Decline ripples the waters with discord and violent revelry, whittling itself to a pinpoint tip and causing you to truly rethink your stance against this type of metal should you be so inclined to dislike or prejudge it. While the vocals are ‘typically metalcore’ in style, there’s enough of a Phil Anselmo sound in there to make it worth your while to engage it. The band also manages to create a brutal presence with its ever-shifting pace from serious speed metal to slower, crunch-laden riffs that are not only interesting and memorable, but tremendously well-produced.

“New Human” showcases some very good guitar work, including a really good solo towards the end that might remind you of mid-era Metallica in its style. What usually is associated with mall kids hanging out and wasting brain cells has definitely allowed me to see that not all metalcore is necessarily overly generic and conceptually diminished. If given the right amount of talent and effort to be creative, even the most basic style can be made entertaining and viable. “Already Dead” is another track that destroys the notion that this style is based around the same silly three chords with no room for variation or design.

The trudging riffs over the verses in each are really heavy, well thought-out and make you stop and take serious notice of this band. The slow-downs in the middle are not at all distracting from the song’s overall flow, instead adding a flavor of intimidation within, only to pass over into “Darkest Darkness” with a slow, moving intro before repeating the caustic harmonies of the album’s core once more. It really is a pleasure to hear an album like this cross my battered desk.

While there are indeed parts of the process that scream typicality and formulaic, World in Decline can add to your musical arsenal in every way, which says much in today’s scene that sees more water dilution than your local fast food restaurant’s soda machines. It truly scores for Antagonist this time around my horn.       

Release Date: August 17, 2010
Label: Prosthetic Records

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