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Solace Of Requiem - Utopia Reborn
Reviewed by AJ Blisten in 9/30/2006
There's been a remarkable change in the SOLACE OF REQUIEM lair since the band put out their somewhat demo sounding debut album on their own a while ago.
The debut was interesting enough, but far from turning the death metal scene upside down in jawdropping awe.
Since then the band inked a deal with a small label called Ruptured Silence in Germany and it seems that this label is doing a decent job to promote this US Virginia based band.
The promo packaging seems to be homemade, but looks good and the CD-R plays flawlessly on my CD rack.
So let's get on the music.
My very first impression is that the sound on "Utopia Reborn" is way better than on the self titled debut album. It sounds considerably heavier, tighter and more controlled and the songs are more straightforward American death metal than the debut.
There's a lot more aggressive energy and fast paced orientation this time around and the vocals is harsher and rawer and tougher than before.
Guest appearances from Brett Hofmann of Malevolent Creation fame don't make the aggressiveness less audible…
"Utopia Reborn" is without doubt a better album than the debut with the groovy revolving guitar riffs, better vocals, better integrated bass playing, a more compact and tighter sound and all. But some of the characteristics from the debut is missing. I cannot pinpoint exactly what it is, but I have a feeling that SOLACE OF REQUIEM have worked hard to fit into the more or less standardized death metal formula instead of developing their own style further.
Anyway, considering this to be the band's official release debut it's a good and convincing debut.
I still have faith in the American death metal band SOLACE OF REQUIEM and I will be enjoying this album, no question about that. But I will also welcome their next outing anticipating further development.
SOLACE OF REQUIEM are showing great potential and this is definitely a death metal band with attitude that will be able to deliver more great stuff in the future.
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