Artist: Anata
Label: Wicked World
Release Date: 2/24/04
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Title: Under a Stone with No Inscription Artist: Anata Label: Wicked World Release Date: 2/24/04 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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5 | ||
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5 | ||
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5 | ||
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Abyss's Review:
Despite having a few solid albums under their belt, Anata still seem to be underrepresented in the metal realm. If there is any justice in the world, Under A Stone With No Inscription will change that. Anata's most recent album is a death metal fan's wet dream. Whether you're partial to Americanized, brutal riffing, the European melodic breaks, or technical death with its mathematic starts and stops, this band has something for you. And while they dabble in all of these well-trod areas, they still have a sound that's all their own.
"One word review: Wow. " This record shreds from start to finish, producing a frantic sort of groove even while rarely ever taking the easy way out by breaking down into slower rhythms. From a technical standpoint the music is stunning, providing the rare combination of dexterous playing and meaty songwriting. Each song is a showcase for the riffs, which play off of each other impressively. Whether the riffs jibe and melt into each other, or rend and tear themselves apart, the attention paid to composition and texture is impressive. In this respect they remind me of early years Megadeth. While their sound is not even in the same stratosphere, their manipulation of riff is just as impressive. The final track of this record, "Any Kind of Magic or Miracle" is a great example of this.
Metalheads should give a great deal of attention to this record, because it's impressive no matter which angle you choose to look at it. It's got flow, brutal force, and a confident air and is immaculate in production - so you can hear every bit in all its glory. One word review: Wow.
Death's Review:
"Technical, thrashy, intricate and brutal, Anata have taken me totally by surprised with this outstanding new release." Technical, thrashy, intricate and brutal, Anata have taken me totally by surprised with this outstanding new release. What once was a "mere" death metal band is now a freer-flowing organic beast, complete with interesting musicianship, emotive yet heavy melodic and dissonant riffing, and a true sense of individuality and self. Don't get me wrong, Anata are still totally metal and have not lost an ounce of their metallic edge, they've simply gotten better. The progression/maturation extends from the musicianship to the songwriting to the recording quality. The album can be deemed "experimental," however, only in the limited sense that the technicality and "math-metal" quotient has been upped. But unlike a lot of what can be termed as "math metal," the melodies are actually interesting, more like 80's thrash than many of today's melodic metalcore bands. Unlike most thrash bands, however, Anata have a sense of spontaneity about them, and listening to the record you get the sense that these musicians know each others musical proclivities well and enjoy playing with each other. Not only that, you get the sense that the band might be amazing to see live. Plus the death metal elements are all still there, the album rips your face off at every turn. In short, Anata have caught me off guard with a first-rate effort. Don't let this one slip through the cracks – this may end up on many critics' top 10 lists at year's end, and I'm sure I will at least consider it for mine.
Hel's Review:
First of all, I think Anata should get credit for their album titles. For the third time in a row, they've come up with a great one. Though I have only heard Dreams of Death and Dismay before this (and a heck of an album that is), I had expectations that this record would be good. Frankly, Anata has taken my expectations and made them look trite and childish. This album is far, far, beyond just "good."
"This album is far, far, beyond just 'good.'" Under a Stone with No Inscription is leaps and bounds better than their last, which, as I have already noted, was a killer release. Under a Stone... on the other hand, is better a produced and more well written record. Actually, the production is so perfect, it's worth mentioning twice. The band's technical prowess has grown as well, and it seems to me that their already fast-paced, complicated sections have become even more so. Too, they continue to use the occasional slower, melodic section within some of their songs, and these also strike me as better than before, as their placement in the new album always seem to be at the most unexpected, yet perfect, points.
So what do you do when an already great band puts out what may just be their best album yet? Me? I give it 5 skulls. You? You run out to the damn store on the 24th and buy it - that's what! Seriously people, there is definitely a lot of great death metal coming out, but this one is a sparking gemstone amidst the pile of gold. You must - I repeat - MUST check this release out. You will not regret it.
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