Arma Gathas – Dead To This World
Antagonist
The Rise And Fall
Losing Hope
The Lies Of Man
The Damage Done
Liberate Me
Depopulation
New Savior
Generation Doom
Protagonist
God´s Wrath
Constant Hunt For Blood
Our Last Goodbye - Our Final Breath
While genres ending in “core” are generally best avoided at all costs, these German maestros churn out an undeniably enjoyable brand of modern metal. Admittedly, Arma Gathas showcase a predictable sound featuring hardcore-influenced, and thus oftentimes repetitive riffing patterns. The much-overused loud-quiet dynamic is also favoured throughout ‘Dead To This World,’ adding a painfully one-note feel to the whole affair.
With bludgeoning, cricket bat-like force, the lead guitar generates ample aggression, boasting an unmistakably American appeal. For the most part, hardcore appears to take centre stage, but the band nevertheless flirt with a smattering of death and thrash metal trademarks. Though Hatebreed-esque bellowing dominates the bulk of this brutal offering, the cinematic ‘Our Final Breath – Our Last Goodbye’ features a bloodcurdling howl pitched above an intricate web of keyboards. Charged with the scalpel-sharp precision of death metal, ‘Generation Doom’ is ferocious and agile in equal measure. Hinged on a string of crushing grooves, its savage axemanship is perfectly matched with spine-chilling cries of “We are doomed.”
There’s no doubt that Arma Gathas could have created more original material, but their bicep-flexing debut is loaded with enough hooks to compensate for this lack of innovation. Striking a tasteful balance between modern and old school metal, ‘Dead…’ exhibits slick, but not overly manicured production techniques. Heavy reliance on hardcore aside, the band have produced an agreeably violent, adrenalin-fest of an album.
Reviewed by Faye Coulman
‘Dead To The World’ is out now on Metal Blade |
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