ALBUM REVIEW: Evergreen – After The Burial

Rumblings of new AFTER THE BURIAL material were met with scalding hot anticipation when first announced, and the time passed since has seen an exponential rise in this bubbling temperature. Now at boiling point, it feels as though their fans sense something special might be on its way and given the success of their 2016 effort Dig Deep, no-one would be wrong to assume so. They are a band that have long since stamped their authority on metal, detouring through the heart of left field and taking a sledgehammer to genre boundary walls.

Evergreen is the embodiment of this. Written to raise the bar still higher in the realm of extreme metal, it is a sonic journey that is equal parts spellbinding and utterly battering. Opener Behold The Crown was released as the lead single and acts as a bold statement for the direction the band has taken. Brash and intrepid, it begins with a massive recurring riff that utilises a striking melange of pitch harmonics and jagged guitar work to instigate a tsunami of sound that does nothing but gather pace. Arguably a little repetitive, flamboyance sees the track through and ensures that we simply cannot detach our attention from it’s dynamic allure.

The same surgical delivery is seen in Exit, Exist, an emphatic track which pulsates with vigorous pzazz. The two eight-stringed guitars joust to the death, and ultimately incite a whirlpool of dynamic chord progressions and an unrelenting barrage of riffs. The energy is punishing and doesn’t cease for a second as 11.26 grabs the reigns and instigates a rodeo of blinding drums – along with an eye-watering solo that bends physics in several directions as it writhes back and forth in emphatic style. Unique by design, it is a major contribution towards the aspirations AFTER THE BURIAL possess to rewrite extreme metal laws and forge their own path.

Their knack for executing instrumental intricacies in a way that other bands of their ilk can only dream of is proven time and time again throughout Evergreen and coupled with a biting vocal performance, the album as a whole feels a level above ambitious. Far from an easy listen, we are forced to offer it our full attention and every sinew is required to fully understand the depth of what has been presented. Twists are offered at every turn, as songs like In Flux and Respire warp the album’s dynamic yet further. Acting as the mongrel offspring of extreme metal and sheer tech-wizardry, this fusion feels exhilarating.

Quicksand is next on the hit list. With growling low vocals that grate alongside vivacious chords, it leads ever closer to The Great Repeat, an angst driven track that exists only to be crushing. One of the most impressive aspects of AFTER THE BURIAL’s music is the way in which they manage to successfully pioneer a genre without coming across as pretentious. Their genius is in good taste, and never feels over the top. To Challenge Existence is one such example of this, with the way it’s weepy hooks drip with luscious panache.

As an opus, this record rarely stands still. There are not many bands capable of fusing such polarised elements. Shockingly heavy and continuously felicitous in its dazzling groove, Evergreen cruises confidently, leaving dropped jaws in its wake. As Evergreen draws to a close with A Pulse Exchanged, the album’s title suddenly feels very apt. AFTER THE BURIAL’s musical voyage is also evergreen. They aren’t going anywhere.

Rating: 9/10

Evergreen is set for release April 19th via Sumerian Records. 

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