Review by Adam M on August 5, 2019.

This new album by The Odious is spontaneous in an inventive and interesting way.  Vesica Piscis switches between Meshuggah like rapid fire rhythm guitar sections and some more mellow moments that recall the likes of Alice in Chains.  The latter comparison is appropriate because the vocalist sounds like Layne Staley when then music is in a subtler mode.  The combination of sounds makes for one of the more compelling albums of the year so far.  There aren't many weak moments on the disc as the band switches things up in an interesting manner.

There really is the same number of dynamics as the most interesting Opeth album and this keeps the songs fresh at all times.  This type of music is also very original and new, so it has a greater impact on the proceedings.  The problem in the disc lies in its inability to reach Alice in Chains or Opeth's greatest peaks and it is relegated to a slightly lower place in the overall scheme of things.  Still, the music shifts so much that you won’t notice this and be more compelled to listen to what the band has to offer next.  This really is one of the more innovative recordings I’ve heard this year and subsequent listens put the pieces of the puzzle together more thoroughly.  It’s not the greatest progressive release, but it is certainly a quality one and worthy of your attention.

There is simply so much going on in the songs that it takes time to decipher the parts and you will enjoy doing so.  The sound of the band is somewhat mechanical, but brought back to normality by the more earthly Alice in Chains type sequences.  There is always something interesting to offer to any metal fan, even when the album gets more subtle.  Vesica Piscis gets a strong recommendation to progressive metal fans.

Rating: 7.7 out of 10

Review by Alexi on November 29, 2004.

Not only has Lamb of God again reinvented themselves, they have also crafted one of the most revolutionary “American Metal” records. Over the last few years, Lamb of God has been categorized with Cleveland’s Chimaira and Boston’s Killswitch Engage in the New Wave of American Metal movement. On Ashes of the Wake, Lamb of God have shown that they are far more musically mature then their contemporaries, and have the ability to make amazing music accessible to all headbangers. The album combines many styles of metal to form one cohesive, unique breed.

Two main forms heavily influence Ashes of the Wake. The first, a European influence from Sweden – At The Gates. You can also hear hints of modern Swede thrash bands such as The Crown, The Haunted and The Forsaken on this record.

The second, an American influence, comes primarily to compliment the aforementioned counterpart. One can hear the power of Pantera and the aggression of Slayer. The hyper speed of the Swedish sound is slowed down, creating a unique sound when drums are added. Riff building is also becoming very popular in American metal, and Lamb of God has embraced this idea on the record. The opening track, “Laid to Rest,” is a perfect example of the two styles of music merged. This fusion is the most evident and exciting feature of this album.

The musicianship on Ashes of the Wake clearly sets the band apart from other American releases this year. Drummer, Chris Adler (who at one point played bass for the band), accentuates the relentless guitar chops with his abilities behind the kit. Guitarists, Mark Morton and Will Adler do a great job writing an assortment of riffs and unrelenting gallops reminiscent of the bands thrashy roots, combining them together on each track and building excellent transitions. Vocalist Randy Blythe has shown a fair amount of growth since their last album, As the Palaces Burn. He is now able to scream comfortably both high and low, and is able to make great vocal transitions within a single song. Bassist John Campbell never disrupts the chemistry between the guitars and drums.

Ashes of the Wake is one of the best releases of this year, and for the first time, Lamb of God has a professionally-produced record. Standout tracks include, “Laid To Rest,” the heavily-Slayer influenced, “Blood of the Scribe” and the final track, “Remorse is for the Dead,” which features Chris Poland (Megadeth) and Alex Skolnik (ex-Testament) on lead guitars.

If you wish to hear a new wave of music and be part of a metal revolution that will go down in history, get off your ass and buy Ashes of the Wake.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Originality: 9
Overall: 8

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Tomek on March 20, 2007.

Before "Mechanic of Dysfunction" ever came into my hands, I practically didn't know anything about Beneath the Massacre. A couple of reviews that I've read talked mostly about their previous album "Evidence of Inequity", and MP3's that you could listen to were not enough to come up with some kind of an opinion about this band. Well, what I'm trying to say is that, without any warning and with no mercy, I was slammed against the floor...

If I had to describe my first impression in one sentence, I'd probably say something like: completely destructive typhoon of technical extravagance, absurd perfection that is at the same time uniquely chaotic. After an introduction like this, I couldn't stop myself from further exploring this album, again and again, of course. The problem is that after every time that I listened to it, something was missing. Then it finally hit me - there was not a single solo on this album! Stuff like this should just not happen, not to a band like this. Then I noticed that the bass line was almost inaudible, as if the band concentrated on the speed and intensity of music, forgetting about the overall effect. Drumming is unbelievably fast, very precise, sometimes maybe even too precise - almost as if it was a program, that goes on and on, like a robot, fast, steady, even, but not very exciting. Also, even though I am a huge fan of growling, in this case, the vocals disappointed me. In every song, they are the same, predictable, and after a while, they become monotonous and boring. The guitar sound and technicality you can almost compare to Necrophagist - music is aggressive and brutal, underlined with techno-progressive and black-metal accents.

Although these guys are very, very tight somehow they missed the fact that speed is not everything. The songs on this album blend into one another - there really isn't much to differ one piece from the next one - no memorable riffs, no solos, no crushing breakdowns, it's very uniform throughout, almost seamless.

To sum it up - if you're looking for fast and furious - this is something worth your while. If you're looking for brutal and aggressive you will also find it here. As for me, I'll wait for their next release, because somehow I know they will make it 100 times better.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Originality: 7
Production: 8
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.4 out of 10