Florida's The Autumn Offering are back with their latest release for Victory Records, this one the self-titled masher called The Autumn Offering. Metalcore with a healthy dose of Gothenburg styled death metal is the way these guys go about their business, and there's plenty of that to go around with this new CD, their fifth overall.
First, a few line-up changes to report-guitarist Jesse Nunn (Silent Civilian/ Scum of the Earth) replaces Matt Johnson, and bassist Carl Bensley (Instinct of Aggression) takes over for Mike Poggione. No longer the new guy now, vocalist Matt McChesney probably makes his definitive statement here on The Autumn Offering, as his mix of screams, shouts, grunts, growls, bellows, and yes, clean melodic singing are as lethal as ever and worthy of your attention. He's just delivering on all fronts on cuts such as "Hessian Blade", "Fed to the Lions", and the crushing "Born Dead", so much so that you almost don't notice the kick ass guitar work of Nunn and Tommy Church. Let's not forget these two, as the duo clearly whip out some delicious leads and massive riffage throughout this release, hitting some wild black/death metal marks on "Viril", and laying down an impressive barrage of technical riffs, crushing breakdowns, and melodic harmonies on the bombastic "Bloodlust".
Though the metalcore scene is for the most part a tired and uninspired wasteland of too many bands basically rehashing the same sounds and styles, thankfully a group like The Autumn Offering keep contributing music with plenty of substance and flair. This is extreme metal folks, well played, brutal, melodic, and with plenty of piss and vinegar.
Track Listing
1. "Synapse"
2. "Born Dead"
3. "Exhale the Locusts"
4. "Fed to the Lions"
5. "Hessian Blade"
6. "Death Mask"
7. "Viral"
8. "Among Wolves"
9. "Bloodlust"
10. "Myriad Black"