Review of Archaic Decapitator - "Light of a Different Sun"
ONE VICIOUS VIGNETTE
By: Geoff Teach
As much as an engaging full-length will always be the preeminent form of musical expression, a great E.P. can still be just as appealing, even without possessing the stature of its souped-up sibling. And in a couple of weeks, a remarkable E.P. will be independently issued that emphatically hammers home my point.
Due out on June 7th, Light of a Different Sun is the latest E.P. from the Suffield, Connecticut-based, melodic death quintet Archaic Decapitator, and although only five tracks grace this vignette, Light of a Different Sun is still brimming with brilliant music for the ears to feast upon. Recorded during a highly transitional phase for the group, this E.P. is loud, aggressive, and overflowing with tasty riffage. Peppered with hints of tech-death and thrash to spice up the mix, Light of a Different Sun is a delicious death metal soup best served cold and combative.
When Archaic Decapitator laid down the tracks for their most recent work, they were down to a skeleton crew of their vocalist, lead guitarist, bassist, and a session drummer. Yet despite going through such hardships, the remaining members managed to record an E.P. that is polished and praiseworthy. Now, having recently found a replacement rhythm guitarist and live drummer, Archaic Decapitator are ready to unleash their new beast of an album onto the public.
Immediately, Light of a Different Sun punches you in the teeth with the powerful “Parasomniac”, whose chord progressions and piano scores remind me of a mix of Wretched and Norway’s Aspherium, while the title-track “Light of a Different Sun” is a neck-snapping blast-beat blowout. Shifting gears slightly, “The Three Poisons” goes more melodic and gorgeous in its overall composure than the aforementioned songs, while “Cult of Reanimators” follows suit, featuring an Allegaeon-like feel to its solos and structure, and the closer, “Face of Asag”, ties it all together by expertly blending melodic harmonies and chord arrangements with crushing rhythms and pummeling textures.
Don’t sleep on Archaic Decapitator’s Light of a Different Sun, ladies and germs. It may not be full-length, but it is surely not short on first-rate metal. ‘Nuff said.
To listen to “The Three Poisons” from Light of a Different Sun, just press play below!
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