While several bands – Swedish and of other nationalities – took the mighty melodic death metal sound associated with At The Gates, Dark Tranquility, and Arch Enemy and watered it down to something approximating pop music, The Forsaken and a handful of other bands chose to honor the legacy of At The Gates by taking the music in a mor aggressive direction which is worthy of the 'death' part of the 'melodic death metal' label.
Thus, their 2012-album Beyond Redemption is both more brutal and darker than what you might expect from a modern melodic death metal band, as the listener is treated to both blastbeats, grindcore riffage and all out harsh vocals as well as pinched harmonics, fast double bass drums other elements that defines death metal. And I must say that I find it refreshing with some Swedish melodic death metal which does not merely copy the unfortunately watered down Gothenburg-sound, which which is taken in the direction back towards its mor brutal death metal roots. The melodic aspect is, of course, retained in the form melodic riffage and guitar harmonies which appear side by site with thrashy grooves and melodic guitar solos.
The musicianship is top notch as is the production, and the absence of clean vocals is extremely refreshing. I really enjoy the guitar solos which are both melodic and technically advanced at the same time and fir perfectly into the overall sound and texture of the music on the album.
This is melodic death metal at its finest (that is, it is more like death metal which is melodic than it is melodeath) – it is brutal and aggressive but with just the right amount of melody to keep it interesting and compelling. If you are tired of watered down poppy melodeath, then you should check out The Forsaken's latest album – it honors and builds on the legacy of At The Gates and Dark Tranquility.
Track listing:
1. Beyond Redemption
2. Only Hell Remains
3. Foul Messianic Grace
4. No Dawn Awaits
5. There Is No God
6. As We Burn
7. As We Have Sown
8. The Light Divine
9. Force Fed Repentance
10. Blessed With Wrath
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