Review by Adam M on April 17, 2014.

The new Anubis Gate is upon us with its promise to the progressive metal genre. The songs here are even more laid back than on the excellent self-titled album, but remain intricate enough for the genre. There is a sweet melody to be found that is more in the realm of traditional metal than power metal to me. The overall slight complexities and sweet melodramatics actually make this a very accessible listen to the public.

The self-titled album was a little bit darker, but this band usually performs big upbeat songs that are fun to sing along to. “Destined to Remember” kicks the album off on a positive and overwhelming note. It has a huge, anthemic feel that is great to open Horizons with. The next song, “Never Like This (A Dream) is one of the catchiest songs on the album. A mixture of moods and song-writing dynamics is created with the remainder of Horizons. There are a few moments when one would wish the album was darker, but the positive tone is quite enthralling regardless. The vocalist of Anubis Gate has a nasal register that some might have to adapt to before enjoying. The guitar-work is clear and well-produced as before and has enough might to make a mark. There were perhaps more standout moments on the last album, but there’s plenty to keep the listener entranced.

The great thing about Anubis Gate is that they can be thrown on for a quicker listen than most progressive music because of a mixture of styles. However, this could also be a down-point because they are becoming more simplistic in style. The mood of the self-titled album caught me slightly more strongly, but this album is an excellent keeper as well.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Adam M on September 5, 2011.

Laceration Mantra performs very competent Technical Death Metal in a similar manner to the band Suffocation. The music here features many blast beats and an overriding evil aura. It is managed with scalpel like precision for the most part and doesn’t feature unnecessary technical wankery, which is an element that I hold in high regard.

Like Suffocation, the music has solid song-writing, but doesn’t venture very far into left-field pastures. There is a distinctive pummeling groove to be found which is competently created, however, and makes the songs move along in a rollicking fashion. Right from the onset, 'Thrown To The Wolves' sets a tone that isn’t deviated from much throughout the majority of the disc. Laceration Mantra goes for the throat with the riffs, but does so with a great deal of structure to the overall approach. Though the band plays their particular brand of Death Metal very effectively, "Prolonging The Pain" never quite reaches the height achieved by albums like "Effigy Of The Forgotten".

There isn’t quite enough to differentiate this band from other Death Metal albums and it ends up sounding a bit too samey at times. Still, there is no denying the quality of the band as a unit and the commitment to creating quality Death Metal. "Prolonging The Pain" is certainly above average and it threatens greatness, such as on tracks like 'Victims Of Hate', but never has quite the necessary inventiveness to be quite an outstanding release.

Obviously, this album gets a recommendation towards fans of Suffocation, in particular. Those looking for Technical Death Metal with plenty of blast beats yet solid song-writing should be satisfied with this disc.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7.5
Production: 7.5
Originality: 6.5
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 7.4 out of 10

Review by Adam M on September 5, 2011.

Laceration Mantra performs very competent Technical Death Metal in a similar manner to the band Suffocation. The music here features many blast beats and an overriding evil aura. It is managed with scalpel like precision for the most part and doesn’t feature unnecessary technical wankery, which is an element that I hold in high regard.

Like Suffocation, the music has solid song-writing, but doesn’t venture very far into left-field pastures. There is a distinctive pummeling groove to be found which is competently created, however, and makes the songs move along in a rollicking fashion. Right from the onset, 'Thrown To The Wolves' sets a tone that isn’t deviated from much throughout the majority of the disc. Laceration Mantra goes for the throat with the riffs, but does so with a great deal of structure to the overall approach. Though the band plays their particular brand of Death Metal very effectively, "Prolonging The Pain" never quite reaches the height achieved by albums like "Effigy Of The Forgotten".

There isn’t quite enough to differentiate this band from other Death Metal albums and it ends up sounding a bit too samey at times. Still, there is no denying the quality of the band as a unit and the commitment to creating quality Death Metal. "Prolonging The Pain" is certainly above average and it threatens greatness, such as on tracks like 'Victims Of Hate', but never has quite the necessary inventiveness to be quite an outstanding release.

Obviously, this album gets a recommendation towards fans of Suffocation, in particular. Those looking for Technical Death Metal with plenty of blast beats yet solid song-writing should be satisfied with this disc.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7.5
Production: 7.5
Originality: 6.5
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 7.4 out of 10

Review by Adam M on September 5, 2011.

Laceration Mantra performs very competent Technical Death Metal in a similar manner to the band Suffocation. The music here features many blast beats and an overriding evil aura. It is managed with scalpel like precision for the most part and doesn’t feature unnecessary technical wankery, which is an element that I hold in high regard.

Like Suffocation, the music has solid song-writing, but doesn’t venture very far into left-field pastures. There is a distinctive pummeling groove to be found which is competently created, however, and makes the songs move along in a rollicking fashion. Right from the onset, 'Thrown To The Wolves' sets a tone that isn’t deviated from much throughout the majority of the disc. Laceration Mantra goes for the throat with the riffs, but does so with a great deal of structure to the overall approach. Though the band plays their particular brand of Death Metal very effectively, "Prolonging The Pain" never quite reaches the height achieved by albums like "Effigy Of The Forgotten".

There isn’t quite enough to differentiate this band from other Death Metal albums and it ends up sounding a bit too samey at times. Still, there is no denying the quality of the band as a unit and the commitment to creating quality Death Metal. "Prolonging The Pain" is certainly above average and it threatens greatness, such as on tracks like 'Victims Of Hate', but never has quite the necessary inventiveness to be quite an outstanding release.

Obviously, this album gets a recommendation towards fans of Suffocation, in particular. Those looking for Technical Death Metal with plenty of blast beats yet solid song-writing should be satisfied with this disc.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7.5
Production: 7.5
Originality: 6.5
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 7.4 out of 10

Review by Nathan GDL on November 19, 2021.

AAFCC is one of my favorite bands of all time. I gave their album Try Not to Destroy Everything You Love a 10/10. It's one of my favorite black metal albums ever actually and this is a band I've been following religiously since Lost. I really really appreciate and stan the hybrid blackgaze and post punk goth whatever mix that they do. True, they have yet to top TNTDEYL, and every subsequent release has felt ever more lacking in the things that I love the aforementioned for. The clusterphobic and spastic bright and warm sonic soundscapes have since been pushed further and further away for a more streamlined sound, and ultimately, the band has severely suffered as a result.

With the new signing to Prosthetic I was a little worried. I remember reading that they thought this was their best release yet, so I had high hopes. They released a few teaser tracks, which were abysmal, save 'Water's Edge', which was tolerable and good in some places. I decided to wait until release to make any final decisions, as any sane person would, and holy hell, I'm disappointed.

Starting things off, we have 'I Became You', which is to date the most uninspiring opener the band has ever done. AAFCC often has super good and energetic opening tracks, 'Autum Again', 'Past Tense', 'The Long Goodbye' etc. They a feel like openers and they're often the best tracks on the album. Unfortunately, the opener feels anything but here, and is almost indistinguishable from the other snoozefests here. Each track bleeds into the next, aimlessly going nowhere. A melody would be introduced, it'll play behind some sterile post punk drums, and suddenly, if it's one of the few good tracks on the album, like 'Water's Edge', the title track, or 'Distance', it'll introduce some aspect of layering and substance, reminding me of earlier and objectively better works.

The main issue is the band is rehashing the same trite formula with every release since The Long Goodbye. This one is the worst offender with it's sparse and very uninspiring melodies, directionless songwriting and almost, dare I say, amateur level production. The vocals are the same on every single release and offer nothing of value anymore, the songs feel half assed and thrown together. It's like I'm listening to a bad cover band.

I understand that AAFCC is a mid-paced blackgaze band, so blasts, and slow parts don't happen really that often, but my god, give me some variety. You'd think after 4 albums, a band would grow tired of literally writing songs that are actually indistinguishable from the next. The song 'Distance' on this album, the closer, is the only song that I'd see myself listening to again, the melodies are emotional, and they have purpose, and it feels like a closer. Lastly, the production hear is as thin as it gets, which makes every experience that much less striking

All in all, I'm severely disappointed in this band. The lack of direction, ambition, and innovation bit then on the ass hard on this album, and it's something I was quietly fearing since The Long Goodbye. Avoid.

Rating: 3 out of 10