Xerath - "I"
(U.K., Candlelight Records, Technical Metal, 2009)
Described as a new cutting edge band, combining crushing riffs with epic orchestral compositions, Xerath is the perfect combination between Strapping Young Lad, Meshuggah and Dimmu Borgir; a musical content that band members decided to call it "Orchestral Groove Metal", or to simplify "Chug-Score"!This band was formed in 2007 and started still from the beginning to combine a film score with extreme guitar riffs; and the final result you'll see is a masterpiece! And to be honest, I'd say that the number of the bands playing the same way is less than a hand's fingers. Aggressive and very dark from time to time, Xerath's musical content goes in a very melancholic direction, mostly thanks to some sweet female interesting passages; something very original and extremely rare met until now. The male vocal score is very Gorefest oriented, but without decreasing band's originality and we can hear some Core Metal lines and a screaming Black Metal voice extremely well interpreted. The rhythm changes are well done, and although this band has no other material recorded behind "I" seems to be extremely professional and very original in the end. The vocal score include some Core Metal lines, besides these female passages, in a perfect harmony with the whole musical content. Taking into extreme Metal sometimes, Xerath's music brings in front of its listeners awesome symphonic lines; something that will sound great as a film soundtrack! Something that makes me to think on Dimmu Borgir and Urshurark, to name but a few. In the other hand I told you that there aren't so many combos doing the same way. From time to time Slowcore and even Hardcore oriented, band's music introduce us killer guitar solos in the purest Heavy/Progressive Metal way; a sign that we have to deal with very skilled instrumentalists in the end.
Check it out and you'll find probably one of the most interesting bands ever met on the extreme Metal scene; a musical content that could fit perfectly with almost all film categories, from horror/S.F. to soap opera and even drama!
