Lupara
Self Titled
6.3
Broken Hope enthusiasts will certainly recognize guitarist Jeremy Wagner, but I must agree with my colleague Doug Moore who said in his review of Retribution’s self titled album, “I maintain there is just as much mediocre death metal per capita as there is any other subgenre.” And while Crash Music has recently offered above average death metal in the form of Abysmal Dawn’s From Ashes and Vicious Circle’s The Art of Agony, Lupara’s new album suffers the same fate as the above-mentioned – okay for the moment but not worth revisiting all that often, if ever.
Though Lupara is a decent platter of mid-to-fast-paced death metal, it’s also forgettable. Conversely, however, Lupara have their shit together as far as the necessary components are concerned. The production gives the album an edgy, razor-like feel, the songs are organized well, and the musicianship is nothing to scoff at. In the vocal department, Noa switches between raspy, Anselmo-esque shouts and deep guttural growls, which adds some much-needed flare to their overall sound. Just about any of their tunes such as “Four Leaves War”, “As the Darkness Surrounds”, “Today Is a Good Day to Die”, et cetera are at least mildly enjoyable – except “No Pity on the Ants", the riffs of which closely resemble those found on “This World” from that shitty Lies disc I reviewed a while back.
Again, the main problem with this album – and Lupara as a whole, I suppose – is that once it comes to a close, there’s no reason to revisit it. There’s nothing memorable here, and it’s difficult to be anything but apathetic when listening to a release like this, despite the hearty riffs, adept solos, and precise double-bass work. Like several of their labelmates, this quintet get by with that they’re doing, though don’t excel enough to be remembered a year, or even a month, down the road. Perhaps the follow-up to this debut will be more inspiring and exciting.
