Labeling themselves 'Surrealistic Death Metal with golden ratio structures and harmonizations based on pitagoric rules, hypnotic melted scales and modern technical-progressive elements' (well ok then...), Italy's Agony Face are the latest band to enter the epic, progressive/technical death metal sweepstakes. Can't get enough of Death, Cynic, Atheist, Pestilence, Behemoth, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Decrepit Birth, Obscura, and Origin? Well, then you've come to the right place. The band also lists '70s progressive rock icons PFM, King Crimson, and Banco del Mutuo Soccorso as influences as well, but you won't hear much of that on the oddly titled CLX Stormy Quibblings, except perhaps some inspiration on a few of the complex passages or on the brief instrumental "CLX • Quibblings". Overall, this is pretty dense, intense stuff, as the venomous growls spew all sorts of hatred over tumultuous rhythms and a cavalcade of technical riffage. Occasionally the band drops in a lovely acoustic guitar segment, like on the gorgeous progressive death metal of "XIV • Ice, Smoke and Horses", but mostly it's juggernaut, brutal & complex material such as "XV • What? Chimera!" and " XI • Sophisticated Telescopes" that makes up the bulk of the album. When it's brutal, CLX Stormy Quibblings really slams you over the head with extreme metal power, but the warm little proggy & folk interludes in spots makes for a nice touch.
This is epic progressive death metal that impresses from start to finish, and no doubt Agony Face are going to be a band worth watching from this point onward.
Track Listing
1. XVI • The Sublimation
2. XVIII • Into the Keyhole
3. XIV • Ice, Smoke and Horses
4. XV • What? Chimera!
5. CLX • Quibblings
6. XI • Sophisticated Telescopes
7. XVII • Golden Waterfalls Part IX
8. XVII • Golden Waterfalls Part VI
9. XII • To (t)rust the T(rust)
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
