Artist: The Human Abstract
Title: The Digital Veil
Genre: Technical Metal
Release Date: 17th June 2011
Label: Steamhammer / SPV
Album Review
‘Digital Veil’ is THE HUMAN ABSTRACT’s third album to date, and features some of their most melodic work yet. While the group has been compared to bands like BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME due to their mix of technical, progressive, and modern metal with a mix of both harsh growls and cleaner singing, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT has further stepped away from the comparison in trying to blaze their own trail in metal music history. It’s not a complete separation, but certainly the right direction. While ABSTRACT may not be as epic and grandiose as BETWEEN…, they certainly have a bit more melody going for them in almost a classical sense with tracks like ‘Faust’, which not only features heavy, chugging guitars but also beautiful piano compositions that go well with the cleaner vocal passages. For those seeking the heavier, more “in your face” technical metal bits that ABSTRACT has been known so well to do, try ‘Complex Terms’ which feature plenty of rapid guitar note changes - no monotonous chugs or repetitive riffs- and also lots of great melodic solos in between. The piano bits are still present, but are not as vast like on the introductory track. There are also some great progressive moments that almost sound ‘cello based’ with the softer moments before leading into a the solos.
Vocally, the band seems to take almost an operatic tone with their cleaner vocals while still retaining their brutal growling stance. ‘Antebellum’ features not only ABSTRACT’s most progressive piece to date, but also some excellent vocal ranges - both harsh and clean. Some of the cleaner parts range from emotionally high to faded and depressing; one could say that they sound more talented than the growls which are usually a bit one sided, but even in this track the growls tend to vary in tones between the usually low rasp to a higher pitched shriek. ‘Holographic Sight’ is an excellent technical piece, but often may seem to get too clogged with chugs to make it border deathcore music. The technical bits mostly come in at the guitar solos before fading out to some more classically ambient moments, which are more spacey and beautiful than what was presented on the introductory track. ‘Patterns’ closes the album and takes it in a more modern metal direction. Things are not as progressive or technical here, but the band mostly focuses on just creating some great riffs, melodies, and well structured vocal talents, so it is nor overdone or underdone in comparison to the rest of the album.
Overall, one could say that ‘Digital Veil’ is HUMAN ABSTRACT’s best album. Not only does it sound more mature, but with changes in the line-up including reunions with old band mates and a new vocalist, it is like offering a whole new band to recent fans while smoothing out the rougher edges of listeners who have been with them since the beginning. Aside from the obvious classical influence, ABSTRACT do their best to transform classical into a more heavy metal based structure without taking away from any of the beauty, which is a great accomplishment. This is certainly some entertaining technical metal for those who don’t mind the bit of a headache the band can create when changing so many notes so quickly all the time. Hopefully the band will continue to progress in this direction while still finding ways to make new sounds that are rooted in their metal base.
Tracklist
01. Elegiac - 2:12
02. Complex Terms - 5:11
03. Digital Veil - 3:30
04. Faust - 5:56
05. Antebellum - 7:29
06. Holographic Sight - 4:28
07. Horizon To Zenith - 4:20
08. Patterns - 3:43
Line-up
Travis Richter – Lead Vocals
A.J. Minette – Guitar, Piano
Dean Herrera – Guitar
Henry Selva – Bass
Brett Powell – Drums
Website
http://www.myspace.com/thehumanabstract
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 8
Total: 8.5 / 10
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