Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: From Ashes
Label: Self-released
Release: 2015
Rating: 4/5
From Ashes are a modern groove thrash metal outfit from Slovenia, risen from the ashes of Almost Rage. Their starting point lies in the thrash metal tradition, but across the album the band keeps things strongly musical, especially at the peaks, in the chorus melodies. The band manages to build an insanely jagged, avalanche-like wall of sound, driven by the evenly matched thunder of two guitars. The album boasts excellent production, which, for all the effect-laden distorted racket, keeps an organic, live-gig feel, one where you can sense the tightness and unity of the band’s team spirit.
Back in the day the band loved listening to Machine Head (and probably still does). They build on lead motifs crammed with groove, resting on the greedy, massive, suspended sound of guitar phrases. These are effectively woven into rolling, relentless rhythms. The band dresses up the transitional sections with harmonies in thirds and additional layered guitars (guitar ornaments), which reinforce that massive wall of sound.
The guys have their instruments totally under control. It’s a pleasure to hear an album where everything on it »grabs and grips« the way it should. From Ashes are a rational band. They don’t squander ideas, but flesh them out with plenty of embellishments and finesse. The middle instrumental parts are by no means demanding. They hold musically tight solos that maintain the atmospheric groove, and the two guitarists don’t waste a pile of notes on them. Every move the band makes in arranging the songs is wisely rationalized and placed exactly where it belongs. Hence the excellent energy-voltage and musical payoff of all the tracks.
For all the ambition and creative fire, the band decided to integrate a vocal into their sound that isn’t exactly typical for metal genres. That’s why it’s »conditionally digestible«. Some will like it just fine; for others, especially those of you who hear untapped potential for more raging in the riffs, it might be a stumbling block, one that could be upgraded with a bigger dose of devastating vampiric menace. But that’s a matter of taste. The vocal is melodic, clean, mid-pitched. It sits mostly and predominantly in the middle registers, and given its tone and approach, it would be easiest to place in the realms of alternative rock and grunge. So the songs gain a more melancholic, even »wrist-slitting«, if not occasionally downright pathetic, brooding quality. In that respect From Ashes carry a bit of an alternative breeze, and all in all, any one of the tracks on this studio debut could make it onto MTV with no trouble. Far from there being anything wrong with the vocal. The English is more than decent, too. But the vocal is the key element that decides the target audience, or fan base. So the album aims at a base of younger, less demanding listeners.
»Dying Embers« is a very good album. As a debut, it’s a very high-quality opening document in the career of a young, ambitious band of seasoned musicians, one that successfully lays the foundation for their own musical dossier. It’s packed with excellent playing, the songs are tightly arranged, and the finer details are dialed in just right. These tracks seriously grab you. Simon Jovanovič’s production (ex-Prospect) hit the bullseye here.
Lineup
Radislav Marič – vocals
Bojan Sinković – guitar
Iztok Bajc – guitar
Erik Filipčič – bass
Igor Marasovič – drums
Production
Simon Jovanovič
Tracklist
1. We Are Done
2. Reminescence
3. Wrong
4. Savouring the Bloodshed
5. Imagine
6. Dying Embers
7. Rise Again
8. Only Shadows
9. Circle of Life
10. Light of Reason
11. Temujin
