AVERSED
Erasure Of Color
M-Theory Audio
AVERSED have returned with a new album entitled “Erasure Of Color” and ironically it is akin to a sonic rainbow with all of the different colours bursting forth from the speakers while it blasts away.
Originally formed under the name Aversion before having to change it in 2010, AVERSED have two EP’s and one previous album, “Impermanent”, in their discography. This sophomore effort is also the first full-length album with new vocalist Sarah Hartman who joins the band’s two long time members, Sungwoo Jeong (guitar / vocals) and Martin Epstein (bass) as well as Alden Marchand (guitar) and Jeff Saltzman (drums).
The album opener “To Cover Up The Sky” is a fast paced, high energy stomper with Sarah showing off her growls, shrieks and screams all backed up by a thunderous rhythm section, addictive riffs and a searing solo. Add to this a clean vocal section with a distinct prog vibe and we have so many colours we can literally taste the rainbow, awesome stuff.
“Cross To Bear” and “Lucid Decapitation” are up next with both having been released as singles for the album, and I can see why the band chose them. The passionately sung chorus on “Cross To Bear” with the burst of blast beats is fantastic. The dynamic of clean female vocals layered on top of relentless brutality works so incredibly well, I am so happy that it is being embraced by bands and fans alike. When “Lucid Decapitation” hits, it hits hard. It’s a coordinated cacophony of heavy and together with “Cross To Bear” it gives us the other side of the AVERSED musical coin.
“Inexorable” begins in a brooding sort of fashion before exploding into life with the whole band showing off their technical prowess throughout this relentless track. A brief moment of respite hits around halfway through with Sarah switching to a melodic belt whilst the guitars solo and harmonize their way to perfection.
The bass work is fantastic through the whole album, but it really stands out on “Burn” with the ferocious fret work, solid slapping riffs and insane solo really taking the song to another level all together.
“Solitary” really stood out to me and is definitely a stand-out track. It starts with a melodic guitar piece before the bass and drums take over with the clean vocals of Sarah commanding your immediate attention. It shifts up a gear when the guitars re-enter the picture, but it’s only for a moment, as we drop back to the mid-tempo groove. It’s when the harsh vocals come in however, that we know things are about to get serious… and it does not disappoint. The song shifts and twists under its own heaviness as it seeks to bludgeon everything and everyone in its path, fantastic!
The chorus on the title track is another stand-out moment, it’s so brutally heavy and has almost sinister sounding clean vocals weaving their way through the venomous barbs on show here. Speaking of shows, the totally insane section that appeared out of nowhere is a perfect example as to why this album is so good. There are monstrously heavy parts and then all of a sudden there are short orchestral parts dipping in and out, it’s almost like we are in a Death Metal Circus Show, before we are obliterated by the heaviness again. Grab your tickets folks, this ride isn’t over just yet.
The final track on the album is fittingly entitled “Departures” and whilst I don’t want to say goodbye, I can’t help but smile as this song weaves its magic all the way to the end. It is a sonorous farewell full of melody and extreme heaviness, a fitting end to an incredible album.
AVERSED have delivered a wondrous slab of technically proficient, heavy as hell yet full of melody, extreme gothic death metal and yes, I know that is a weird subgenre but we touched on so many different styles on this album, it’s the only one that fits succinctly. I am very excited to see what’s next for them and I really hope that they tour Europe and the UK soon as seeing these tracks live would be amazing.
Russell Mulock-Bentley