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With a career close to two decades, Colorado’s ALLEGAEON have built a reputation as one of metal’s most consistent bands. Across six studio records, the band’s fusion of technical death metal with melodic flourishes inspired by the Gothenburg heavyweights has struck a chord with many. Now, the band are back with The Ossuary Lens, a record that is anticipated to be the bridge to greater pastures. Given the quality of their discography, anything less that magnificent would be a disappointment. A tall order.
Seven albums deep, it would be understandable, albeit disappointing, if we are served a dull repeat or a record that is lost in direction. And 2022’s Damnum was a fantastic effort, a record that elevated the band to the position they are in today. Fortunately, neither are present here. The Ossuary Lens captures the beating heart of ALLEGAEON and sprinkles enough new ideas to stand as the bold new chapter in their career.
At points, the record burns at a white hot intensity, spearheaded by the returning Ezra Haynes who makes his first studio appearance back fronting the band since 2014’s Elements Of The Infinite. 11 years on since his last record, Haynes hasn’t lost any of his larynx-shredding snarls, shrieks and guttural bellows and he successfully charges the band through moments of relentless speed. Whether it’s The Swarm, where the band feel they are close to breaking the sound barrier, to Dies Irae, a song that calls back to the days of 2010’s Fragments Of Form And Function, with its dual-pronged riff assault, mental guitar solos, and enough shred to keep the pit surging.
The departure of Riley McShane in August 2022 could have spelled disaster and his melodic flourishes he brought to the ALLEGAEON table could have understandably been shelved as they regrouped. However, what’s clear is that McShane, and the qualities he brought to ALLEGAEON, has made a lasting imprint and as a result, The Ossuary Lens flashes with moments of sheer melodic bliss. Dark Matter Dynamics soars with harmonious noodling riffs that dance and duel with the rolling percussion before an almighty crescendo marks one of the biggest highlights on the record. Carried By Delusion oozes with twin guitar harmonies and a staggeringly amount of shred that just keeps you hooked.
Then, there’s Wake Circling Above, a progressive metal epic in its own right. The band are no strangers to this realm – having effortlessly applied their own spin to RUSH‘s Subdivisions and YES‘ Roundabout – but with a song of their own craft, the result is a masterpiece. Oozing emotional depth at its core, a striking clean vocal performance from guitarist Michael Stancel makes for the most memorable choruses on the entire record, whilst passages of larynx-shredding shrieks for Haynes keep the ferocity razor-sharp. Not to mention arguably one of the most impressive guitar solos dispatched by Greg Burgess in his long repertoire of delivering classy lead work makes for a soaring high in the record’s closing stages. It’s moments like this that demonstrate just how brilliant ALLEGAEON are and it speaks directly to why we fell in love with this music in the first place.
Despite the turbulence that has threatened to derail their momentum, the fact ALLEGAEON have remained so consistent over the course of their 17 career is highly impressive. Never a dud in their discography, with The Ossuary Lens, the band take a huge confident stride forwards with newfound momentum. The returning Ezra Haynes proves to be a masterstroke, and his shot at redemption is a triumph in itself. With his return, the band have fused their current aural mould with their roots. The result is a staggering record that showcases a band firing on all cylinders and will make for one of the best listening experiences of the year.
Rating: 9/10
The Ossuary Lens is out now via Metal Blade Records.
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The post ALBUM REVIEW: The Ossuary Lens – Allegaeon appeared first on Distorted Sound Magazine.
