Arbiter
Demo
5.1
Synopsis:
When Myspace bands attack...
Review:
As apparent Myspace and personal friends of impressive Chicago act Veil Of Maya, Arbiter approached me about reviewing their three song demo, and I was happy to oblige as I’m always willing to offer a band my honest opinion. So here it is...
Average. Promising yes, but right now, average.
This strictly demo quality death metal is played by kids (ergo deathcore) for fans of Job For A Cowboy, As Blood Runs Black, Winds of Plague, Iscariot, Misericordiam and such, but a ways off from the quality of those bands. Still though, if you poop uber growly, breakdowny, grindy, occasionally melodic deathcore, these three songs from these guys from Illinois will entertain you with their energetic but slightly rough and ready outtake.
The musicianship and production is acceptable for a demo; I’ve heard far worse. And songwriting wise, the band has a firm grasp of the genre’s requisite pacing and heft, even if they need to develop a little more individuality. “Edible Savior” appears to be the demo’s featured track as the other two (“Malice Blossoming” and “Frottage of the Earth”) seem a little less developed.
Anyhoo-par for the course deathcore is OK by me, but the band has a bit of an uphill battle playing a genre that many ‘real’ metalheads hate and will possibly find themselves relagated playing to highschool kids in gymnasiums in rural Illinois.
