If you thought that The Red Chord's 2005 release Clients was something special, then fasten your seats belt for an even wilder ride on Prey For Eyes, a smoldering amalgam of death metal, metalcore, and frenzied math rock styles that will keep your head spinning from start to finish. This Massachusetts collective have no doubt benefitted from countless months on the road over the last few years, as their instrumental prowess has really taken an even more impressive turn here. Produced and engineered by Eric Rachel (who has worked withThe Black Dahlia Murder, Atreyu, and many others) at Trax East studios, Prey For Eyes is a great sounding, brutal onslaught, fueled by the mammoth riffs and complex lines from guitarists Mike "Gunface" Mckenzie & Jonny Fay, the pulverizing rhythms of drummer Brad Fickeisen and bassist Greg Weeks, and the lethal vocals spewed by lead shouter/growler Guy Kozowyk. With plenty of groove thrown in as well as moments of almost jazzy atmosphere, this is dense material that never fails to pack in class as well as brutality. The ominous title track has an almost prog-rock feel at times, yet other cuts like "Dread Prevailed", "Midas Touch", "Tread On The Neck Of Kings", and "Open Eyed Beast Attack" are just crushingly heavy, technically amazing examples of ferocious extreme metal. The way these guys jump from slow, doomy passages to frenzied complex riffery is pretty damn amazing, adding even more to the wow factor yet also helping make the songs varied and memorable.
Paul Romano has once again added some mesmerizing artwork here, so expect plenty of his trademark thoughtprovoking yet lurid imagery. It all makes for a great metal package, and you have to think that Metal Blade are well aware that The Red Chord could potentially become one of the biggest bands on their roster very soon. If they keep cranking out stuff like what you have here on Prey For Eyes then it's an almost certainty.
Track Listing
1. Film Critiques And Militia Men
2. Dread Prevailed
3. It Runs In The Family
4. Send The Death Storm
5. Pray For Eyes
6. Responsibilities
7. Midas Touch
8. Tread On The Neck Of Kings
9. It Came From Over There
10. Intelligence Has Been Compromised
11. Open Eyed Beast Attack
12. Birdbath
13. Bone Needle
14. Seminar
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