Kronos

Stranger Fruit demonstrates Gagneux’s commitment to the style, but not his ability to expand upon it, and until he does, Zeal and Ardor will remain a more of a catchy gimmick than the fascinating fusion that the band’s fans want it to be.

The neoclassical flair and intelligent writing of Relentless Mutation make it the strongest effort in the “traditional” tech death genre in a long time, and it progresses both the style and the band themselves more than I had ever expected.

Even more spectacular than its melodies or exemplary performances is the sheer humanity of In Contact. It seems to catch every stray sunbeam reflected off of the surface of life and savor their light.

What Passes for Survival finds itself in such company, and not by accident; it is the result of a confluence of uncanny talent and revolutionary vision, a piece of art that truly expands the canon from which it draws.

The Great Collapse is not just a great deathcore album; it is the deathcore album for people who find deathcore stale and simplistic.

Whether as a musical statement or philosophical exploration, Shrines of Paralysis is an unqualified success.

The Violent Sleep of Reason is the work of such a messy and human apparatus, and all the more vital for it.

It would be foolish to ask a band as unabashedly progressive as Fallujah to stand still and just repeat The Flesh Prevails at a lower volume, but nonetheless, Dreamless can’t quite compare to its predecessor.

Deafheaven’s irritating attributes have been reined in for New Bermuda, yet the band continues to make baffling songwriting decisions that explore new territory left open largely because everyone else knows it’s a bad idea.

If you already love the band, Coma Ecliptic isn’t going to disappoint you, and if you don’t really care for them, prepare for more of the same.

Although Psalms has its flaws, it’s one hell of a disc and actually slightly better than I expected it to be; Lorna Shore have proven they can pull off an entire album without resorting to filler, and produced some truly brutal music to boot.

The Congregation will give you just the scratch behind the ears you need after disappointing half-year of metal, and while it’s certainly not the equal of its predecessors, it wont tarnish the band’s growing legacy. Go fetch it.