Band:	Pictured
Album:	The Strand Of Time
Style:	Death metal, Thrash metal
Release date:	May 25, 2012
A review by:	Doc G.

01. Another
02. Metal
03. Howling Forest
04. Black Bile
05. To Hell And Back
06. Curses
07. The Dwelling
08. Stranger
09. The Strand Of Time

Some times, it takes an album like this, Pictured's Strand Of Time to highlight everything that's wrong with certain genres. In this case, it's almost in a reverse fashion; everything is done so well here, with a surprising amount of subtle variation it makes you want to turn to all those moon-spoon-June melodeath bands out there and say; "You see?! This is how it's done!"

Original? Not really. Instead, it's a combination of already existent parts, boiled down to the best parts, then mixed. Take some Arch Enemy-esque leads, a touch or two of some Children Of Bodom extreme-power neoclassical solos, mixed with a few (old) Amoral bouncy rhythmic patterns, then maybe break into some Skeletonwitch type thrash segments. Slow things down, and you've got something reminiscent of Dissection's Reinkaos.

When described that way, it really doesn't sound all that great, as many of those previously mentioned bands are clearly past their best-before date. Just think of those times you've given those bands/albums a chance, then found yourself saying "well, at least they had 2 good riffs in there". Now picture an entire album of those types of redeeming qualities, that's Strand Of Time for you. The only real tangible problem that is recurring throughout the album is the vocals occasionally sounding buried in the mix.

If you're into melodeath, or extreme power metal, Pictured is definitely going to be a thrill. This is a band with their head in the right spot; no over-extravagance, no ruts, no stagnation. Solid riffs, catchy leads, and a nice array of different sounds within the parameters of melo-extreme metal.