ALBUM REVIEW: A Monument To Silence – Alustrium
Since their beginnings, ALUSTRIUM have introduced the world to their own unique formula of progressive death metal. Their ferocity combined with elegant melodies has captured the attention of bands of similar style, leading them to the successes of touring with the likes of BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, RIVERS OF NIHIL, SUFFOCATION, DEICIDE and more. The Philadelphia-based band must have done something right within that time because despite it being a six-year wait since their last full-length release, A Tunnel To Eden, the anticipation for this band to release something new has been ridiculously high in recent months. Now, the wait is over as ALUSTRIUM unleash their third studio album, A Monument To Silence.
This Hollow Ache slowly eases you into what will be a 60+ minute assault of complex-riffs, high-speed drumming and refined vocal techniques. The build-up is essential but still does not appear as the right level of warning needed before getting absolutely battered in the face by the quick tempo and mood change. Join The Dead continues suitably where its predecessor leaves, another fierce gut-punch of intricately placed melodies and superbly-placed vocal lines that seen to weave in and out of one another.
From the moment ALUSTRIUM launch into the sound they have clearly been refining, the constant attack heard in the earlier moments on the album don’t let up for a single minute. Even on songs such as Hunted, which displays an atmospheric closure through a haunting chord progression, there’s a loudness in the still of the air. If anything, these times of give seem to feel more punishing in places due to how well pieced-together they go with the substance of breakdowns and the harshened vocals of Jerry Martin.
Despite being more on the progressive and technical side of death metal, the quintet offer us their abilities to incorporate other styles into their music. The blackened-esque vibes that creep into The Plea show that not only have they got a firm handle on their own style, they’re not afraid of branching out and experimenting. Whilst each song on the album has its own way of twisting and turning, The Plea in particular, should not be ignored for the advanced skills that are put on display when it comes to transitioning. How it kicks off has that more blackened mood to it, but like a light switch, effortlessly sounding in fact, it changes to completely prog, especially within the guitar work of Chris Kelly and Mike DeMaria.
That ability to just alter everything but not leave you feeling disconnected, or like the song even changed at all, is an accomplishment to hold. Aforementioned, this is something that ALUSTRIUM are able to conjure at their own will. Even when it comes to actual song changes, they are able to shift everything as though it is completely effortless. Dreamless Sleep, at just over one-minute, glides in with elegance directly after The Plea, it’s an ambient, surreal experience, and again, it is gone with the crushing force that is Blood For Blood.
The album closes with its title-track, and if the above isn’t enough to explain just how on top of their game ALUSTRIUM are right now, this will suffice. At over 10-minutes in length, the closure is a chaotic whirlwind of first-rate instrumentation and menacing, yet emotionally pulling vocals. Each section of the song falls into one another as mesmerising as a domino structure before the final piece falls.
Not only has ALUSTRIUM served delicate finery in crushing death metal mayhem, they have set an example of how, with the right time and dedication, a band can progress together. It’s hard to find fault in A Monument To Silence, there’s nothing that really acts as a downfall to the technicality of what has been offered here, but again, their growth since their second full-length is an achievement is astonishing. A Monument To Silence is potentially the progressive death metal album of 2021.
Rating: 10/10
A Monument To Silence is out now via Unique Leader Records.
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