AUTUMN'S END

"Act of Attrition" from Phoenix's AUTUMN'S END falls into the "pleasant surprise" category…no, scratch that. It falls into the "I stumbled upon this album in my towering promo stack, had no expectations for it, and was blown away by what I heard" category. Progressive and melodic death metal works as a general description of "Act of Attrition", but does not tell the whole story. Consider elements of OPETH's majesty (primarily the mellower moments) and PANTERA's balls-out attitude, as well as tiny bits of bands like MY DYING BRIDE and AKERCOCKE, and you will have a fairly good idea of what to expect.

More like a dynamic cross between death metal and aggressive traditional metal, "Act of Attrition" wins points for putting the song first, even though the compositions are not predictable. In other words, it is easy to be impressed by the band's daring arrangements, yet one never feels overwhelmed with technicality. In fact, much of the riffing is not technical at all; rather it is meaty, straightforward and darn effective. A rhythm section that is hard as nails and the often violent, but varied, vocal style of lead guitarist Chris Cannella result in ample opportunities to head-bang and groove. A death thrasher called "Give Up the Ghost" is a case in point. And be forewarned, Cannella's magnificent heavier vocals alternate between brutal and blistering, and are guaranteed to straighten the neck hairs.

But the beauty of "Act of Attrition" lies in its outstanding mix of pure metal heft and superb compositional craftsmanship. The OPETH-esque mellow breaks with clean vocals are not only enchanting, but fit perfectly as part of the overall arrangements. "To Carry the Burden", "Hand of Glory", and "The Dirge" are three such examples. "The Dirge" in particular is worth pointing out for the manner in which a dreamy section savagely erupts into a kick-drum driven death metal explosion that is introduced with an absolutely blood-curdling scream. A Middle-Eastern lick on "Scars from the Candle" sounds fantastic, while the combination of mesmerizing bass line, tribal-esque drumming, melodic lead guitar, and doomy (as in the above-mentioned MY DYING BRIDE reference) vocals on "Soiled Wings" make it a definite standout.

Put simply, "Act of Attrition" is one cool extreme metal album and proof that there are still a few worthy acts lurking in the U.S. underground. Those wishing to purchase the "1st edition" should note that the first 2,000 copies have been manufactured and distributed by Hammermill Records.