Arise from Worms' debut album, A Bleeding Tree Hanging Self Destruction, is a technical death metal masterpiece that showcases the band's impressive lineup and musical prowess. With contributions from legends like Steve Tucker of Morbid Angel and Derek Sherinian of Dream Theater, the album promises to be a thrilling ride for fans of the genre. However, despite the band's impressive credentials and technical prowess, the album falls short in terms of songwriting cohesion and overall songcraft.
The album's opening track, "Forgotten Kings," sets the tone for the rest of the album with its fast-paced, guitar-driven sound. The track showcases the band's ability to blend technicality with a sense of melody, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. As the album progresses, the band's technical prowess becomes more apparent, with each member showcasing their skills in their respective roles.
One of the standout aspects of the album is the band's ability to blend different musical styles and influences. The album's sound is a mix of death metal, progressive metal, and even a touch of synth-driven atmospheric music. This blend of styles creates a unique and captivating sound that sets the band apart from their peers.
However, despite the band's technical prowess, the album's songwriting falls flat. The tracks often lack the cohesion and structure needed to make them truly memorable. The album's shorter length of 36 minutes also contributes to this issue, as the band doesn't have enough time to develop their ideas and create fully-formed songs.
In terms of production, the album sounds great. The mix of instruments and vocals is well-balanced, with each element having its own space in the mix. This is a testament to the band's attention to detail and their ability to create a cohesive sound.
Overall, A Bleeding Tree Hanging Self Destruction is an impressive debut album that showcases the band's technical prowess and musical versatility. However, the album's lack of songwriting cohesion and fully-formed songs prevent it from being a true masterpiece. Despite this, the album is still worth checking out for fans of technical death metal and progressive metal.
Rating: 3/5
In my opinion, the album's technical prowess and unique sound make it a must-listen for fans of the genre. However, the lack of songwriting cohesion and fully-formed songs prevent it from being a true masterpiece. The album is a work in progress, and I hope that the band continues to develop their sound and songwriting in future releases.
