Exploring Metal: A Look at the Tech Death Genre

Metal is in a period of transition once again. I think we all can agree metalcore is definitely losing steam (bands have either evolved from that title (Lamb Of God, Trivium, Shadows Fall) or have taken it to its limit (Killswitch Engage)) and now it's only a matter of finding a new way to give metal a kick in the ass.

(for argument's sake we are assuming metalcore did increase metal's popularity and is in some way beneficial).

The way things are looking it seems like the unlikely genre of technical death metal is on the rise. Even to the level that there are now more "commercially appealing" versions of these bands creating music. Case A below (heard of The Arusha Accord byway of the dudes at metalsucks).



I'm not sure whether I can say I really like this band or not, because I've only heard one song by them, but the one positive aspect of the video is that the band is performing with energy (which is my big complaint with tech death bands, unless you are talking maybe The Dillinger Escape Plan who are more tech and not really death). Granted this is music video and not live, but you get the point.

I saw The Faceless live and while I dig some of the stuff on Planetary Duality, the live show was boring and the vocals are completely incomprehensible live (Case B). Not to mention the album kind of blurs together after track 2.



What I'm getting at is that tech death metal (and lots of modern metal) is missing the energy that the old school rockers / metal heads once had (and some still have). The live shows were fun because it was equally as enjoyable to see the band rock out, as it was to hear them play the songs.

That is not the case with many tech death bands today.

Another tech death band that is similar to The Faceless, but more evolved, is Obscura. Cosmogenesis is a great album and they are more fun to watch than The Faceless live, but once again, the music itself is lacking some of the emotion classic bands like Pantera or say Metallica always had.



So what is this post all about in the end? The conclusion that while tech death is cool, bands need to remember that the live show and emotion can be just as vital as playing cool sounding riffs. Maybe Arsis has it right and its latest album is a proper example of where the genre should go?



It's funny because I have heard a lot of mixed response with the new Arsis record, but goddamn if it isn't a fun listen! Is it too much to ask for technicality and emotion in a band's music? And is tech death the new direction metal is going? (you could also make the argument it's going the way of modern doom/stoner metal, which bores me even more). I can't say 100%, but I am interested in seeing how this all plays out in upcoming years.

A GREAT Week for METAL!

Not only did Fear Factory put out a Mechanize today, featuring the crushing combo of Gene Hoglan and Dino Cazares (both literally and sonically), but Overkill and Arsis put out great records too!

The new Fear Factory might just be the best thing since Demanufacture (which is still a revolutionary CD to this day).

Overkill's Ironbound is a total metal classic that should be picked up by all true metalheads. Bands don't make albums like this anymore! It's brilliant! (Although, there are a few production flaws with my digital copy at least, hopefully they'll fix come clipping / static issues).

And I haven't spent too much time with the new Arsis CD, Starve for the Devil yet, but from what I've heard it combines '80s metal and death metal into a satisfying mix.

If there was a reason to motivate you to visit your local record shop / online retailer, this should be it! These are three solid releases and you can't really go wrong with any of them.

Watch the new Overkill video for "We Are the Night" below (or just stream the entire album HERE).

Arsis Goes Back In Time...

...AND RECORDS THE GREATEST SONG/VIDEO SINCE THE 80'S!

Arsis is "Forced to Rock"

Tech-death band Arsis has added another song called "Forced to Rock" on its MySpace Page.

The lyrics are more tongue-in-cheek than I would have expected from Arsis, but I actually am enjoying the "rock 'n' roll" direction of this song a lot. In fact, it's one of the better tunes I've heard from the band. Catchy licks and excellent songwriting all around.

"Starve for the Devil" comes out on February 9, 2010, in the United States.

Arsis Starve For the Devil

To all my fellow metal heads:

I, Randy, host of The Metal Show on KRUI 89.7FM (8-9 p.m.) have been kind of spastic in my blogging activity. So starting now I hope to get caught up and provide up-to-date news for all you all. So I begin with some Arsis news.

I remember when We Are the Nightmare came out in 2008, it rocked my CD player for awhile. So I am hoping for good things with the band's latest which comes out on February 9, 2010.

Recently the album cover and tracklist were revealed over the Internet, so check em' out below as well as one of my favorite tunes off the previous album.



Starve For The Devil track listing:

01. Forced To Rock
02. A March For The Sick
03. From Soulless To Shattered (Art In Dying)
04. Beyond Forlorn
05. The Ten Of Swords
06. Closer To Cold
07. Sick Perfection
08. Half Past Corpse O'Clock
09. Escape Artist
10. Sable Rising

Bonus tracks:

11. A Pound Of Flesh (For The Hell Of It)
12. The Lake (KING DIAMOND cover)

Also: Sorry about the sound quality on this one, but it will at least give you idea of the bands crazy riffage if you've never heard them before.