AS YOU DROWN

Formed in Sweden by the name Ethereal (which as a name I prefer to their new moniker), As You Drown have been rising in the underground scene since 2003/2004 so this debut on Metal Blade records comes as no surprise. Reading through the press release that accompanies the album it says, “As You Drown’s goal as a band is to combine the speed and brutality of the modern death metal scene with the atmosphere and catchy song writing of its old-school predecessor”. To some degree I would say this is successful. There is that modern glean of ‘new’ death metal - something that, although brutal and brilliantly technical on the one hand, has started to grate on me with many new death metal bands going for an almost too perfect, pro-tools led performance. This is in evidence BUT there is enough of that all important atmosphere. There is some madness within a tried and tested sound to keep some of this album interesting, especially track six, ‘The Last’, with its ambience almost reaching the same heights of Nefilim’s ‘Zoon’ album. I would probably put these guys in the same category as Oceano but whilst Oceano continue to push their boundaries, maybe As You Drown have played it a bit too safe with their brand of Death Metal not helping to distinguish them from the pack. I think this is a band that can! And this debut album puts them in a good position - let’s see whether they can pull away and forge their own unique identity or whether they get drowned in the death metal mire!

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Metal Blade Records

Album

REFLECTION

Review by Paul Sims

RUNNING TIME:

34:20

RELEASE DATE:

6th July 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Ruins and Dead Ends
2) Horns
3) What is Worst
4) Driven by Hatred
5) Swallow
6) The Last
7) Open Wound Salvation
8) Ashes
9) Needles

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"...maybe As You Drown have played it a bit too safe with their brand of Death Metal not helping to distinguish them from the pack."