Of Graves And Gods
Slit Throat Andromeda
6.1
I’m positive this would be a little more interesting if it were in fact a collaboration from members of Grave and Gods, but sadly it is not. Perhaps that’s a good thing though, because Of Graves and Gods play deathcore peppered with bitesize bits of hardcore. And frankly, there’s nothing wrong with Slit Throat Andromeda unless you’re seeking an album that rises way above the norm. This record just fails to do so, despite being a crushing semi-formidable effort from individuals who presumably have many years ahead of them.
In the same family as All Shall Perish, Despised Icon, and even Unearth on a certain level, Of Graves and Gods mean well – I’m sure – although they seemingly lack the attention-grabber that is often necessary to captivate an audience. For instance, some bands are overwhelmingly talented, original, or gimmick-based, but no matter what, there’s got to be a draw, something capable of arresting consumers in droves. In short, I think the oft-important “clincher” is missing. Now as far as the music is concerned, the production is decent, the songwriting skills are above average, and the musicianship is good; still, I have a hard time getting excited about this.
“Slit Throat Andromeda” is actually more melodic and industrial than several of its peers, but the full-on assault is exactly what I said it is: a full-on assault, buttressed with a wall of drums that produce beats aplenty. The vocals are typical –core growls until he decides to incorporate a hardcore tone and attitude. As a result, the hooks and vocal interjections of “Scars Make Memories” leave it sounding like a hardcore anthem, with gang shouts cementing my previous statement. “Heavens Death” and “Tossed Out and Torched” waste no time delivering the heavy goods, though the former hesitates by providing an ambient introduction prior to the jackhammer blasting.
My favorite parts tend to feature Of Graves and Gods throwing in subtleties within such eviscerating music like most, if not all, of “That Which Comes Between Pt. 2.” The rhythmical variations, hi-hat asides, and whatnot will have you sitting in your chair fully upright, rather than slumped over like usual. Christ, take a shower once in a while. Anyway, I don’t envision Slit Throat Andromeda receiving much praise other than from niche aficionados, specifically those in tune with –core branches such as death, hard, and metal. However, this isn’t a bad debut entry. A four-year old band comprised of college students, if that is indeed their dorm in the promo photo, could do much worse.
