Clifton
We Never Change
6.8
To endear yourself to this reviewer takes very little. Don’t fuck around, don’t pretend to be artsy, don’t be boring and do NOT take yourself or your “work” seriously. You are a fucking band. You are one step below burger flippers and streetwalkers. Just make the goddamned music and shut your fuck up. And by hell, Clifton pretty much wants to be my boyfriend. Playing a straight version of melodic death metal, never for a second getting cute or self conscious. And naming the opening track of their record "Triple Belly O Poo", the music speaks for itself, so why bother painting it darker than it is with a serious title? Sure, it’s inane and Jr High School, but at least you know they don’t care. Most bands are Jr. High School but from the other direction - drama queens - without even realizing it. So points for self awareness.
But there are some points subtracted for lack of originality. I own the Carnal Forge disc. Three of it. Heart’s in the right place, but method is about five years after the fact. It’s not a deal breaker, but I would certainly hope for a bit more from a band with this kind of chops. This is nothing any fan of modern death metal derivatives isn’t perfectly familiar with: Maiden-esque leads, Carnal Forge speed and At The Gates attack, and the odd metalcore or sludge breakdown from time to time. And some delicious riffs which, along with the energy and no bullshit attitude, really keep this from sinking completely into “just another” territory.
Technically it’s standard across the board. Tight and competent musicianship, but nothing less than you would expect. The singer has more of a raspy death metal style than a roar or burp. Recorded with heaviness and metalness in mind, everything is audible and clear without sacrificing the weight. Nothing out of the ordinary, but nothing to keep a fan of the style from enjoying the album.
The bottom line is that this is a record built on the concept of playing your fucking music, and nothing else. It’s not pushing the limits of modern death metal, it’s not attacking weighty concepts or trying to fit airy keyboard passages into thundering songwriting. No singsong, no whining, no apologies and no invention. I can’t get enthusiastic about it, but I can give it a recommend for diehard melodeath fans and anyone who lacks some simple head banging material in their metal collection. That’s not me - I have almost nothing, but if it’s you, give these guys a bash.
