Band: Artas
Title: Riotology
Label: Napalm Records
Distribution: Rough Trade Benelux.
Release date: January 28th 2011
Review: CD

Austrian formation Artas was formed in 2006 in the capital of Vienna. The band recorded a first full length, called The Healing, which got released in 2008 through Austrian label Napalm Records. The result was somewhat doubtful. Many listeners appreciated this debut, especially in their home country, Switzerland and Germany, but the pathetic lack of originality did bother, and bore, some.
Unfortunately, this sophomore album continues that path, even though the average quality has increased a lot.
Riotology indeed is heavily inspired by the melodic Scandinavian Death / Thrash scene – especially Sweden comes to mind, with a hint of Finland and Denmark. This, of course, gets caused as well by the influence of Jacob Hansen (Destinity, Submission, Yyrkoon, Hatesphere, Dawn Of Demise a.o.), who did the final mix and mastering for Riotology.

After the short introduction A Journey Begins, Riotology brings a fresh and modern mixture of melodic and rather catchy Thrash Metal. The vocals by Obimahan Ismahil and Hannes Koller are rather varying: melodious, growling, yelling, harmonious) and come in different languages: mainly English, with German, Spanish and French. Variety goes for the instrumentation too. The guitar riffs are aggressive and technically performed, and integer when needed. The rhythm section (bass, drums and rhythm guitar) comes with an energetic drive and does sound strained and precise.
In comparison to the former album, the compositions on this one are better-thought and the variation (changes in tempo, melody, structure and emotion / atmosphere) sounds less infantile. Still the grooving songs are catchy, yet less pathetically penetrable. All positive evolutions, yet there must be a ‘but’, mustn’t it?
Indeed: but… in spite of the stronger and nicely matured compositions, almost seventy minutes of rather predictable and from time to time too goody-goody sweet melodies is a long time to get through, and a provoking challenge to sustain.

Recommended to fans of, let’s say, everything between Soilwork, Amorphis, Hatesphere and In Flames.

70/100

Ivan Tibos.