Artist: A Life Once Lost
Label: Deathwish Records
Release Date: 7/29/03
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Title: A Great Artist Artist: A Life Once Lost Label: Deathwish Records Release Date: 7/29/03 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Go to Reader Reviews | ||
Abyss's Review:
I have pretty much made it my mini-mission in life to make sure all discerning metalheads out there get acquainted with this band. It all started when I was handed their debut, open your mouth for the speechless, in case of those appointed to die (I actually just finished reading the title a few days ago). Soon after hearing the unpolished genius within, I was lucky enough to see them play at the March Metal Meltdown. Armed with the knowledge that the band was amazing live as well as in the studio, I found myself constantly urging the ignorant to check them out.
"I have pretty much made it my mini-mission in life to make sure all discerning metalheads out there get acquainted with this band." And I still do that to this day. Their follow-up The Fourth Plague: Flies was equally killer, but sadistically brief in content. That brings me to their new record. I guess these guys have been around enough now that I shouldn't harp on how young they are, and yet they still have that youthful aggression that made them so endearing from the get-go. They have definitely matured however, their songs are now more focused and structured, maintaining their experimental disposition while never really drifting all that far from the theme of each individual song.
The new album is far less chaotic than what they've done in the past. In fact, it's downright dirgey in places, hitting with doom-like riffs that explore a sonic weight unrivaled by their earlier work. However, their sense of groove and frequent time changes remain, showing up the current metalcore scene with their uniqueness in sound and craft.
"Not only should you buy this record, but you should run out and buy all of the others as well." This band remains the most underrated in heavy metal. Not only should you buy this record, but you should run out and buy all of the others as well. Relentless kids no more, these guys are now proven artists. One word review: (utterly) Compelling.
Death's Review:
"Definitely talented. Well-recorded too." What? This is not exactly what I expected this album to sound like. I had seen A Life Once Lost play live at a couple of festivals, and I saw them as a young but incredibly talented and totally energetic Jersey/Philly technical metalcore outfit. I put this album in the stereo, and I'm thinking more like Lamb of God crossed with Meshuggah. Lots of Meshuggah. Downtuned, repetitive bend riffs played to odd but heavy time signatures with screamed vocals sung over it. Not what I expected, but still pretty cool. Definitely talented. Well-recorded too. I'm starting to increase my appreciate for Meshuggah style heaviness lately. First I liked it, then I got really, really bored with it, but ever since I saw their cool video for "Rational Gaze," I have to admit I kind of "get" the band more. You get a sense of how they see themselves with the video and it helps the listener to appreciate the complex feel better. As lame as it is to admit that after years of listening to a band a video for their slightly more commercial new album helps you to understand the music better, it's true: the trippy performance clip nails it, in my humble opinion, giving me a renewed interest in the material.
"I can see people going ape-shit for this. But I can definitely see others thinking it's nothing they haven't heard before." What does this have to do with A Life Once Lost? I would have thought nothing, but instead this music is becoming the beneficiary of this renewed interest in this type of sound. This is the first "other" band I've heard that jammed like this. OK, so I'll warn you right now: I'm not sure if anyone else hears it this way besides me. There's definitely hardcore stuff going on here, and the riffs a la Lamb of God and the technicality a la Dillinger Escape Plan are also really cool. Add in the downtuned heaviness and the incessant riffs over tribal off-kilter polyrythmic madness, and you'll start to get the picture. I can see people going ape-shit for this. But I can definitely see others thinking it's nothing they haven't heard before.
Hel's Review:
I remember the first time I ever encountered this band. It was January 2001, and open your mouth… had recently arrived from Loudnet.com. I was intrigued, since this was the first release from Loudnet.com, a webzine hoping to also become a label. I wonder whatever happened to them? The site is now gone, and the domain name seems to be currently for sale. Well, anyway, I tossed it into the cd player on a lark and I vividly recall sitting down, hard, when the music started. I immediately made myself a copy and handed it over to Abyss, knowing how difficult it is to knock his socks off, and confident this would do the trick.
"The overall chaotic bombast and speed that I recall take something of a back seat to the songwriting these days."
"A Great Artist is an impressive opus." A few months later, I caught them live at the third incarnation of the Metal Meltdown in Jersey. I was amazed to see how young they were, and my astonishment at their ability continued to grow. Since then, I have heard another recording, The Fourth Plague: Flies, and saw them again live earlier this year, at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival. So here I sit, with a fairly long history (considering their overall youth) of watching this band of youngsters grow up. Today, they have quite a few more tattoos, a lot more live experience and some maturity has been acquired along the way, as is wont to happen. Their live show is only slightly less reckless than a couple of years ago, but the songs are quite a bit less turbulent.
The overall chaotic bombast and speed that I recall take something of a back seat to the songwriting these days. Instead, odd time signatures and slowed down sections are prominent, and though the direction is less extreme, it is still extreme. It may be not precisely what I had been expecting and hoping for, however, the skill displayed is no less that what I had expected and hoped for. A Great Artist is an impressive opus. Growth and progression are audible in this recording and the production is excellent, which allows you to appreciate every last note. This album is remarkable for the skillful execution of strong songwriting it displays. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.
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