Comprised of current and former members of Numenorean, Hammerdrone and Kobra and the Lotus, it’s fair to say that Calgary natives Krepitus have a fair amount of pedigree in them. While the aforementioned groups may have specialised in a variety of different genres, this quartet have honed their mesh of death metal and thrash for the past few years and now, on sophomore effort Dialectic, they’re seeking to take their craft to the next level.
As death-thrash goes, it’s fair to say that Krepitus have a much more progressive and melodic-leaning approach than some of their contemporaries. Tracks tend to average about 6 or 7 minutes and really show off the musicianship of Teran Wyer and co., with tracks such as “Praying for the Prey” and the title standing as a real testament to their abilities, with long instrumental phases indicating that on Dialectic, the members of Krepitus are much more prepared to let their music do the talking. Special praise must also be reserved for drummer Harley D’orazio, whose fast, technical drumming really ties things together as the songs move from passage to passage. Particular highlights of his drum work can be found on “Praying for the Prey” and “Volition and Vitriol”.
Every moment of Dialectic has been meticulously crafted from start to finish, carefully planned out so that each change in the track has the maximum intended impact. You can tell from tracks like “Define Morality” that Wyer has a keen ear for songwriting, and when each member gets their chance in the spotlight – be it D’orazio’s drumming, the grandiose guitar solos of Matt Van Wezel, or the rumbling bass work of Curtis Beardy. Though the moments where they simply things and go for a straightforward, balls-to-the-wall thrash sound are perhaps the most where Krepitus are at their most punishing. “Burns Alone” is not the most technically challenging song they’ve ever written, but it takes things back to basics and sometimes that’s all you really need. It goes hard, it riffs hard, and does its job. On the complete opposite end of the scale, you have the beautiful acoustic guitar work of closing track “Searching for Light”, a huge tonal shift from the rest of Dialectic but, at the same time, a stunning way to close it out.
There is nothing that can be faulted for the musicianship on Dialectic. The production also does a great job at balancing out the mix and allowing the bass to be audible, something too many death and thrash bands tend to neglect. With that said, there still feels like there’s something missing here, and it’s hard to really put a finger on. While the songs are crafted with the utmost care, it can still feel like moments can drag on a little, or Krepitus somewhat overindulge themselves when they really don’t need to. Things can certainly be streamlined a bit, and somewhat simplified so that the raw aggression and heaviness isn’t compromised by a desire for super technical guitar solos that, at times, overstay their welcome. More tracks like “Burns Alone” wouldn’t go amiss in that respect, as it gets the job done and feels a lot shorter than it actually is because of that.
Overall, however, you have a proper musician’s album on Dialectic. Tight production and a balanced mix allow every part of Krepitus to shine through, and though there might be a bit too much guitar wankery for your casual listener, there is definitely a lot to like here for those that appreciate the care and attention that went into the making of this album.
Stream and download the album below, and follow the band on Facebook.
As death-thrash goes, it’s fair to say that Krepitus have a much more progressive and melodic-leaning approach than some of their contemporaries. Tracks tend to average about 6 or 7 minutes and really show off the musicianship of Teran Wyer and co., with tracks such as “Praying for the Prey” and the title standing as a real testament to their abilities, with long instrumental phases indicating that on Dialectic, the members of Krepitus are much more prepared to let their music do the talking. Special praise must also be reserved for drummer Harley D’orazio, whose fast, technical drumming really ties things together as the songs move from passage to passage. Particular highlights of his drum work can be found on “Praying for the Prey” and “Volition and Vitriol”.
Every moment of Dialectic has been meticulously crafted from start to finish, carefully planned out so that each change in the track has the maximum intended impact. You can tell from tracks like “Define Morality” that Wyer has a keen ear for songwriting, and when each member gets their chance in the spotlight – be it D’orazio’s drumming, the grandiose guitar solos of Matt Van Wezel, or the rumbling bass work of Curtis Beardy. Though the moments where they simply things and go for a straightforward, balls-to-the-wall thrash sound are perhaps the most where Krepitus are at their most punishing. “Burns Alone” is not the most technically challenging song they’ve ever written, but it takes things back to basics and sometimes that’s all you really need. It goes hard, it riffs hard, and does its job. On the complete opposite end of the scale, you have the beautiful acoustic guitar work of closing track “Searching for Light”, a huge tonal shift from the rest of Dialectic but, at the same time, a stunning way to close it out.
There is nothing that can be faulted for the musicianship on Dialectic. The production also does a great job at balancing out the mix and allowing the bass to be audible, something too many death and thrash bands tend to neglect. With that said, there still feels like there’s something missing here, and it’s hard to really put a finger on. While the songs are crafted with the utmost care, it can still feel like moments can drag on a little, or Krepitus somewhat overindulge themselves when they really don’t need to. Things can certainly be streamlined a bit, and somewhat simplified so that the raw aggression and heaviness isn’t compromised by a desire for super technical guitar solos that, at times, overstay their welcome. More tracks like “Burns Alone” wouldn’t go amiss in that respect, as it gets the job done and feels a lot shorter than it actually is because of that.
Overall, however, you have a proper musician’s album on Dialectic. Tight production and a balanced mix allow every part of Krepitus to shine through, and though there might be a bit too much guitar wankery for your casual listener, there is definitely a lot to like here for those that appreciate the care and attention that went into the making of this album.
Stream and download the album below, and follow the band on Facebook.
Comments
Post a Comment