ALBUM REVIEW: ANIMETAL – Within Destruction

Heavy metal fans are massive nerds and have absolutely no shame about it – but then, how could they? So much of the music they love is intertwined with fantasy writings, science fiction and, in the case of the much missed BOLT THROWER, the entire Warhammer 40k universe, so to shun anything that is often derided as ‘nerdy’ in social circles is to dismiss a significant chunk of the metal landscape by extension. Anime and manga are also heavily featured in the genre, from EPICA‘s EP covering songs entirely from the Attack On Titan series to BRAND OF SACRIFICE literally basing their entire creative output on the Berserk franchise. Now, Slovenian crossover wizards WITHIN DESTRUCTION are taking their own path with sixth album ANIMETAL, a love letter in part to vocalist Rok Rupnik‘s love of Death Note and out on Friday, 11th April via Sumerian Records.

WITHIN DESTRUCTION  have evolved considerably since their halcyon days fifteen years ago – originally beginning as a deathcore act, their later work has seen them blend metalcore with electronic and trap influences and add a huge nu-metal bounce on the top; the results have been divisive, but no less entertaining; apt, given the band themselves identify as an ‘aggressive entertainment group’.

Both are seen from the get go, as the title track explodes into life with a barrage of drum fills and guitar harmonics, and a swagger in the chorus that will incite pits across the world; it’s fun, for sure, but with a sharp edge that isn’t to be messed with. That same feeling emerges in Cybergirl, as Rok hits falsetto notes and throat-shredding screams around a pop-oriented chorus with a melody that will get lodged in your head for days on end; special mention to guitarist Howard Fang for delivering at the end with a neatly packaged solo.

The longer the album progresses, the more you realise just how much is going on here, as if WITHIN DESTRUCTION‘s constant pushing of boundaries across their career have been leading up to this very record. Even their deathcore roots, something not often seen in recent times are given a chance to shine through Automaton. Full credit to the band as well because nothing here is inherently bad – however, that doesn’t mean it’s all at a quality it needs to be.

Consistency is an issue, because while tracks like Demon Child and Kanashibari punch their way through nicely – albeit by drawing heavily from BRING ME THE HORIZON and MOTIONLESS IN WHITE respectively – there’s also Bitter Embrace, which has another great Fang solo to thank for not being anything more than ‘fine’; the less said about the autotune in Torment the better as well. You have to give WITHIN DESTRUCTION full credit for doing what feels right to them and sticking to their guns, but there are certainly a number of creases to iron out.

Without question, this is WITHIN DESTRUCTION‘s most authentic album to date, a bubbling cauldron of what they believe to be the best of everything explored across their previous releases. It isn’t perfect by any means, but they do enough to show that a smorgasbord of styles can certainly work without being too busy or crowded; a little more finesse on the next record will go a long way, however.

Rating: 7/10

ANIMETAL is out now via Sumerian Records.

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