| CD REVIEW Subconscious |
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Band: Subconscious Why me? That was my first thought after I listened the first time to this new Subconscious-album. This German formation, hailing from Stuttgart (and not to be confused with the band from Berlin) does almost exist for twenty years (founded in 1990) and honestly, I can’t see any huge progression. The catchy mixture of progressive Death Metal and melodic Thrash Metal, interspersed with groovy hooks, lightning guitar solos and (I have to admit) a decent sound, has many links to the current Metalcore-scene, so a sudden allergic reaction is killing me again. Nevertheless this material is stronger, much stronger, than all former recordings. So I need to excuse me: there ís a certain (positive) progression in this band’s musical evolution. For the first time I can also keep my allergy under control without the supplement of huge amounts of, well, medicational material ;o)… And what’s more: I must even admit that a few moments can almost please me, meaning: a few splendid compositional moments. I can’t ignore the members’ skills this time, but on the other hand it sounds so predictable again. I’m not sure what to think about it, but I will never get a spontaneous erection by listening to Subconscious, even not subconsciously. I do sometimes read about comparisons with Death or Cynic, but I think that’s a little exaggerated, because these bands are much, much more convincing. Meshuggah is a band that comes to mind, and so are Sadist and Atheist, even In Flames from time to time. Not my cup of hallucinogenic tea (which also includes, besides the Prog-elements, the sometimes jazzy approach of the material – listen for example to that f*ckin’ enervating saxophone on Moral Constraint), but indeed the band’s best effort to date. 70/100 Ivan Tibos. |