When I look back in the annals, I can see that I did a review of Quest Of Aidance's 'Dark Are the Skies at Hand' from 2007. I praised the release for its power and surprising take on death metal back then. I will also praise the Swedes this time, not so much for surprises - because there are fewer - but because of the sheer power and technical prowess.
The blend of death metal and grind is in places breathtaking - take the 44 second long Anyx for example. Dammit, it tears everything apart! On the other hand you have pieces like the instrumental intro, A New Storm Rising, which sounds like the intro to a true metal album with keyboard and everything.
Vocally, Daniel Valström (also active in Syconaut) provides a screaming vocal in the vein of many metalcore bands, but luckily this is accompanied by Christian Älvestam's (Miseration, Unmoored, formerly of Scar Symmetry) gutteral roars in the background, thus avoiding the torment of haing just one scream his way through an album - something which for the most part puts me off (Heaven Shall Burn excepted).
As I've already mentioned, technicality rules alongside brutality here. Speed and tightness come together neatly and go hand in hand with the quirky little details and surprisingly melodic solos that help build this diverse piece of metal.
Recommended for fans of death metal with a touch of grind and something completely other. Go try!
