Amiensus - Restoration review
| Band: | Amiensus |
| Album: | Restoration |
| Style: | Melodic black metal, Progressive metal |
| Release date: | January 01, 2013 |
| A review by: | BitterCOld |
01. Dawn Of Release
02. Deeper Than Blood
03. Become The Fear
04. Morgawr
05. I Am
06. Millenium [feat. Ken Sorceron]
07. Healer
08. Thanatos
09. Prometheus [bonus]
Like Donny, I find myself out of my element in reviewing Amiensus' Restoration.
Ok, so unlike Theodore Donald Karabotsos I do have a frame of reference, although Meloblack has never really been my thing. Like my coffee, I prefer my black metal straight, harsh and not loaded with sugary additives. It just doesn't move me with all the rough edges removed. And thus the biggest problem with the album actually lies with the reviewer.
Their approach to meloblack features well produced, well-constructed songs with rasped vocals, keys, and string accompaniment. The musicians are clearly skilled and occasionally show off their chops via some nice soli, but are content not to let their obvious fretboard skills override their ability to craft quality tunes. The keyboardist deserves praise for a truly catchy-yet-tragic sounding flow in "Morgawr" which makes the song.
At times they conjure flashes of Borknagar and at other times flourishes of Arcturus. And while I can appreciate their obvious skills, the whole meloblack thing doesn't do it for me.
Where the album managed to pull me in and engage me was when they went even further away from Harshtown, Blackmetalstan. Enjoyable clean vocals, clean guitars, mellow yet vaguely foreboding parts help songs develop along the same path as so many of the Post-it bands I've reviewed? Start soft, build and develop intensity.
"Become The Fear" starts almost like something you'd see on eMpTy Vee unplugged, if only that channel played music? and had the balls to play talented artists rather than lame pop groups. Acoustic guitars, clean vox give it an almost folky feel. A couple minutes in the song does, indeed, boldly go where many have gone before? but the build-up is great. "I Am" is another similarly enjoyable track.
Also of note, Ken Sorceron of Abigail Williams appears on "Millenium".
So, all things considered, while I've made it abundantly clear meloblack isn't my cup of coffee, I have enjoyed this album, which means if you enjoy the genre, you should definitely check this out.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 9 |
 | Written on 03.03.2013 by BitterCOld has been officially reviewing albums for MetalStorm since 2009. |
Comments
Comments: 6
Visited by: 216 users
| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702  |
Nice one... a bit lightweight, but very enjoyable in a bubble-gummy way. BTW, this is what it says on bandcamp: "We recorded it ourselves in our homes and dorm rooms and finished recording in Fall 2011. We sent it off to Ken Sorceron (Abigail Williams) to mix/master it and re-amp our guitars, drums, and keyboards." http://amiensus.bandcamp.com/album/restoration
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| Alex F Posts: 3519  |
For me this album had more boring parts than exciting. There were a few really nice sections, but unfortunately (I feel) the band's potential was not reached. I'd give it a mid 6 (like a 6.3)
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| Boxcar Willy REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Posts: 9185  |
Reminds me of WoY in places. Cool album.
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| euronymous Posts: 71  |
Written by Alex F on 04.03.2013 at 18:12 For me my yellow friend, your rate IS SO HIGH tstststs
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| Diverge Posts: 1334 |
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| Susan Smeghead Elite Posts: 6941  |
This album is AMAZING! Totally agree with this part: Where the album managed to pull me in and engage me was when they went even further away from Harshtown, Blackmetalstan. Enjoyable clean vocals, clean guitars, mellow yet vaguely foreboding parts help songs develop along the same path as so many of the Post-it bands I've reviewed? Start soft, build and develop intensity. "Buiild" and "intensity." Yes. I don't even know why they're marketing themselves as black metal. It's one of like 12 things they do here, and perhaps they're missing a chunk of audience who aren't necessarily going to try a black metal band but would love this. For instance, the gothic and/or melodic metal crowd? They seem to float around the ether between genres, never really landing anywhere, and not necessarily "combining" genres. Just playing emotional, intense music. I read that the band members don't each just play one instrument, that they all kind of play everything. That makes so much sense and accounts for the "floating." The way you play guitar is different than the way that guy plays guitar, which is different than how I play. Even if we're all aiming for the same style, the subtle differences will add up quickly and create something that doesn't stick in one place too long. It's only June but this will likely be on my best of 2013 list. THANKS Bitter Craig for the "suggestion" 
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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