ALBUM REVIEW: Jurisprudence – Ara

Sometimes the road to becoming a successful band means you have to take the management and business side of a musical career into your own hands and this independent approach has helped Wisconsin death metal outfit ARA to garner a considerable amount of praise throughout their journey. It has been six years since the release of their debut full length Devourer Of Worlds and it is now time for the highly anticipated follow up which comes in the form of Jurisprudence that is available now, also via self-release. Will the considerable amount of time and effort assigned to this release pay dividends?

Ashen instantaneously mows you down with a juggernaut of sludgy riffs, ferocious vocals and bludgeoning drum beats. As the track progresses you are introduced to abstract dissonance and peculiar time signatures to leaving you in a state of disorientation. Mythos picks up where its predecessor left off, continuing to hammer you with meticulous efficiency. Blast beats and rumbling bass lines chip away at your bones. Cytokine Storm provides another wave of unrestrained fury as abrasive growls join forces with frantic guitar work in destructive fashion.

Etymologicide slows the wrecking ball down for a moment to indulge in some crunchy doom-laden riffing which allows effective melodies to flow into the track, giving you an opportunity to absorb the layers rather than feeling like they’re piling on top of your chest and simultaneously crushing you. The brutality still exists, but in a more welcomed, digestable fashion. Jurisprudence emphatically stomps around the terrain holding a commanding presence. Sturdy riffing battles for prominence with bursts of maniacal drumming. Excursus Praestinguo reprises the ominous sludgy soundscape for a brief interlude that paves the way for following track Abhortion. The chaos is considerably ramped up once more witnessing blast beats and rapid fire riffing taking centre stage. Devilish lead work assists in enhancing the aggressive nature of the track. Pounded Into the Multiverse surges towards the finish line with charged guitar work and pummelling drum segments aiming to leave you in a state of bewilderment once they’re finished with you. The riffing continues to crush what remains of your body until the very end.

If you’re feeling particularly disgusted with life in general, Jurisprudence may be the perfect outlet but for the most part, it is difficult to form any kind of connection with the material. For a large chunk of its runtime (particularly in the early stages) it feels more like an audible execution than a digestible listening experience. Once they rein in the carnage and let the riffs breathe there are some dynamic, vibrant elements which are particularly enjoyable to behold. ARA are evidently proficient musicians and have a clear vision in mind but this material may divide opinion depending on how close you wish to tread towards the brutal side of the spectrum.

Rating: 7/10

Jurisprudence is out now via self-release.

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