Alustrium

Many bands put out EP’s like it’s just another thing to do on the way to creating a full length or inbetween tours. Alustrium knew they wouldn’t have another release until they had everything perfect. This being said, we can be glad they put 100 percent into this EP which will only excite us a little more for the debut full-length.

Beginning this fine example of underground metal mastery is the five minute twenty five second song, “Butterfly Wings”. Although it sounds like the HIM song (“Wings of a Butterfly”), do not the title deceive you. It is much heavier than the five-piece Finnish band’s 2005 single although not a melodic. I guess it really depends on what your into. If you’re looking for melody this may not be the song for you. However if you’re looking for hard hitting in your face chugging back by speedy double bass work, I can be certain you’ll like this.

Following “Butterfly Wings” will be a song titled Magnum which delievers a sound bigger than what magnums are used for (I had to go there sorry) an excellent bass/guitar trade off in the beginning leads to a heavy riff backed by great drums and searing vocals that rip thorough your head phones and melt destroy your brain. What I found to be the most impressive element of this song is how it seems to be a very bass driven song. With the bass intro and a bit of a bass solo about half way through the song lets us know that, Brett Leftwich is more than just providing low backing tones for the band.

Leading into the third track is a riff and double bass that will make you want to get up and mosh. I suggest you not do that however it may make you look mentally unstable. “The All Seeing Eye” may fair for those who enjoy black metal. It is a bit more of a trem picked riff with parts that have both high and low vocals at the same time for certain parts. My only complaint is that it becomes a little repetitive, but at eight minutes and fifty-six seconds long, it’s a little hard to come up with different riffs that fit within the song structure. My other complaint with this song is the whisper that comes in just under the four minute mark. They don’t really add anything to the song, but then again It may have something to do with the story within the lyrics; either way a decent song that only adds to the strength of the EP.

Finally is “Twilight’s Reprieve” which comes with the question; when’s the last time you heard a ten minute song that wasn’t by Between the Buried and Me? Why do I like this song the most? It’s a good thing you asked, “Twilight’s Repreive is definitely the most diverse in style with every element of the music. Even Jerry Martin’s vocals change in style throughout the song, while in the other songs he maintains a monotone growl which only changes once and a while. “Twilight’s Reprieve” seems to be a culmination of everything the band has tried to get across in the other three songs. Blast beats, breakdowns and melody. Even an 80’s hair metal solo comes through around the six minute mark. Where I would normally write unspeakable, horrible threats to a band that tried to do this, I can’t because it seems like the only kind of solo that fits the music and any other solo would seem out of place.

Are they this generation’s At the Gates? No, however with work and some future tours I can see Alustrium playing the three day European festivals that bands strive to become a part of. Be sure to pay attention to these guys at www.myspace.com/alustrium. For Fans of :Trivium and At the Gates.