Annotations of an autopsy "Dark Days EP" 2011

Artist: Annotations of an Autopsy
Album: Dark Days EP
Genre: Deathcore

Facebook: Annotations of an Autopsy

Tracklist:

1.      Buried In A Bad Rep

2.      Reznov

3.      Dark Days

4.      Stage Breaker

Last.Fm: (2006 – present)

Annotations of an Autopsy is a death metal band from the UK.

Influenced by bands such as Morbid Angel, Decapitated, Devourment, Deeds of Flesh, Crowbar & Pantera.

AOAA were formed in 2006 and have released 2 CDs: 2006’s “Welcome to Sludge City” and 2008’s “Before the Throne of Infection”. On January 18th 2010 they released their 2nd full length album “The Reign of Darkness” on Nuclear Blast records which, sees them taking a more traditional death metal approach to writing.

The band has received worldwide success off the back of the two releases and a huge fan base around the world. They have toured around the globe with the likes of Suffocation, Job for a Cowboy, Hate Eternal, Despised Icon, Suicide Silence, The Acacia Strain, Vital Remains, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse and more.

Described by Metal Hammer magazine as “The first UK death band to make a dent in the worldwide metal market since Carcass”

“The Reign of Darkness” was released on January 18th in the UK and 22nd Worldwide in 2010.

Overall Sound:  Annotations of an autopsy plays deathcore but had actually had a slightly more death metal sound on their previous effort “The Reign of Darkness” but has once again progressed back into their old mold. It feels almost like they’ve progressed back because of losing popularity after their last album.

Guitar: typical uninspiring guitar riffs. Although there is quality production written all across this EP, it is still just another deathcore album.

Bass: I can’t hear it most the time but im sure it’s there somewhere………

Drums:  pretty uninspiring again…….

Vocals/Lyrics: absolutely terrible, if you want generic wanna-be deathcore album, this is definitely a release to pick up for you, did I mention the lyrics are terrible?

Overall Impression: horrendous effort by a band who I thought was going to turn their sound into another Job for a Cowboy like sound change but unfortunately they wandered right back into the mold they formed in 2006 with “Welcome to Sludge City”. Now after writing a completely un-inspiring attempt at Beatdown Hardcore with deathcore elements, they need to give up.

Rating:  1/10

Ion Dissonance "Cursed" 2010

Artist: Ion Dissonance

Album: Cursed

Genre: Deathcore/Mathcore

Myspace: Ion Dissonance

Tracklist:

1. Cursed
2. You People are Messed Up
3. The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same
4. This is the Last Time I Repeat Myself
5. No Care Ever
6. After Everything That's Happened, What Did You Expect?
7. We Like to Call This One...Fuck Off
8. Can Someone Please Explain this to Me?
9. Disaster in Sight
10. This is Considered Mere Formality
11. This Feels Like the End...
12. They'll Never Know
13. Pallor

Overall Sound: If you’ve never heard one of Canada’s premiere Deathcore/Mathcore fusion acts “Ion Dissonance”, then “Cursed” is a very digestible CD to listen to. Overall production and quality is very tight and well-rounded in every aspect. This is band is a Deathcore/Mathcore band that has a variety of time signatures and tempo changes throughout every song, yet it somehow melts all together in this CD unlike previous CD’s like “Minus the Herd”. The Intensity and Anger this CD dishes out is so far unmatched in the Deathcore/Mathcore scene outside of possibly the new Beneath the Massacre which isn’t even out yet, but I digress.

Guitar: As Always, Amazing!!! Considering of course that your actually into Mathcore and don’t take it as “One more unrecognizable blazing fast riff-fest” then your half way to understanding the genre. All parties involved in this CD on guitar as mentioned before have skill at what they do, there is often almost Meshuggah like riffs with almost poly-rhythm patterns but they dwindle as the CD plays ¾ of the way through.

Bass: Not easily found, but is there mainly during the chug patterns within every song, but if you listen to it loud enough the guitar will drown it out, so I would say it is not there haha

Drums: This drummer in my honest opinion could do better to be in another band, because I feel like he’s having to hold back his talent with the continued breakdown….breakdown…..breakdown…. well you get the picture I assume.

Vocals/Lyrics: Normally I enjoy the low end, hardcore vocals much like the vocalist of ion dissonance. In “Cursed” however I am deeply disappointed in the performance, because for one it sounds like “The tony danza tap dance extravaganza”. Secondly the vocals and particularly the continued use of the word “Fuck” which apparently makes you a tougher band. Lyrics are terrible don’t even bother.

Overall Impression: Going into this review as a previous ion dissonance listener I was honestly expecting more from the vocal department, which IMHO has failed terribly on this record. The Strengths are apparent as soon as you press play on this CD, however though I just was not blown away as every person that I have read just about claims to be from this CD.

Killer Tracks: You People are Messed Up, The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same,

After Everything That's Happened, What Did You Expect?

Rating:  6.5/10