Customer Reviews

Concealers

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Daath's first album The Hinderers showed a very polished and highly technical style that few in American death metal could match, but it did have a bit of a meandering problem.

Not so with their 2nd release The Concealers. After an online search for a new vocalist, they seem to have comfortably slid into a full-frontal massive sound that is both shocking and enveloping. The material seems more coherent, and if anything, the technical precision and polish are so high that you might be tempted to call them a fusion of death and math metal. No matter what you call it, it's face-meltingly awesome!

I bought a new car recently and it came with satellite radio. I hadn't heard much satellite radio up to now because my average drive time doesn't merit the cost. However, three months come free with this car, and I have enjoyed farting around checking out various formats, although none of them particularly stand out. To get to my point, I settled on Liquid Metal, the heavy station from Sirius, and a few things come to mind: far too many metal bands have lapsed into the same trap everybody else does, and that is mediocrity. I listened sometimes for several songs at a stretch and I won't name names, but the tunes, while they were heavy enough, were so by-the-numbers that it was difficult to tell the bands apart, if not impossible. Only Opeth stood out at first, and that's because I already have several of their CD's. Out of dozens of bands that all sound exactly alike, especially with those stupid grunting vocals, only one stood out over the last three days as having a shred of originality, a real beat, and some great melodic moments that most metal reviewers seem to really hate nowadays. That band is Daath, the Atlanta metal outfit that is probably the most technically proficient metal outfit out there right now.

"Concealers" isn't prog rock, either. Daath are extremely heavy, but they share a musical adventurousness with Opeth that makes them stand apart and above their contemporaries. This band doesn't sound like Opeth, but they aren't afraid to mix in moments of melody, some of the best guitar slinging out there today and even a simple beat instead of the blast beats that are contaminating everything in metal anymore. Some intolerant reviewers knock Daath for these qualities, but to me it makes them recognizable and offers an actual individual sound, something most bands can't do anymore.

Now, I double dog dare this fine outfit to employ some clean vocals. Fear Factory does it to no harm, Killswitch Engage does it, and these bands have much more of an identity for it. Voices are unique - vocalists who sound like they have extreme irritable bowel syndrome do not sound "evil" or tough. They just sound stupid, and I'm sick of it. I'd never go near death metal, black or metalcore based on vocals - if the music isn't good and original enough to override the belching, I'm not listening. Daath have the chops and real vocal melody would add a great dimension to an already impressive style. Why sound just like everybody else? Being a clone band ain't rock and roll at all.

Technically this is Daath's fourth release and their third full length album. Futility dropped in 2004 and was their one and only self released album. After some grueling touring for a couple years they were snatched up by Roadrunner Records and thus released The Hinderers and followed that with a stint on Ozzfest, yes I was there. My first time hearing Daath was at Ozzfest and I have been a fan ever since.

Like The Hinderers (by the way, note the strange similarity in the names) The Concealers is very fast paced and like its predecessor the music is extremely difficult to label. Their is a Death Metal base but yet the band mixes in Industrial, Thrash and even a moment or two that may remind one of the Progressive genre. But that is the reason they are so amazing because they blend these styles flawlessly, and the right accessible touches that should secure them a solid fan base.

They took a step in the right direction on The Concealers by making the leads more a focal point compared to the previous release. Tracks such as the roaring epic "The Unbinding Truth" is practically four minutes of face melting leads. Where as others such as the chaotic opener "Sharpen The Blades" is straight forward balls to the wall Death with their turn on a dime tempo changes. Near the end of the album we even get a short bit of Technoish keyboards with "Duststorm" whose melody carries into the following track.

All in all this is an amazing album and as already said one of the best of 2009. So if your into brutal music this should be right up your alley. Also this might be interesting to those of you whom listen to more timid groups as though the music is heavy they tend to keep it fairly catchy. When it comes down to it all fans in my opinion should at least give this band a try and if you enjoy this make sure to pick up their previous release. These guys continue to impress me and from what I can hear they have no interest on slowing down, Easily one of the best bands to emerge onto the scene in the past several years. Thank you for reading.

-A very loyal Daath fan!!!

This one hits the mark right between the eyes!!! One of the best new metal albums for 2009 so far. If this dont get ya head and feet bangin theres something seriously wrong with ya! A must buy for you metal fans........

Like THE HINDERERS this album is awesome metal. I saw these dudes once at the Whisky in Hollywood and they bring it live as good as any top tier metal act. Excellent composition on these songs. "Sharpen The Blades" is a standout for me. The new singer is a better singer yet still brings the ferocious vox.

Daath are an awesome up and coming metal band. They are definately one of the best new bands that I've heard. I bought their 2007 Roadrunner debut "The Hinderers" (which was produced by death metal guitar legend James Murphy) in that same year, and I was blown away, and I quickly became a fan of Daath afterwards. What I heard was a death metal band that incorporated other styles including industrial metal, thrash metal, black metal, and even progressive metal all in their unique sound that really packs a serious wallop. These guys are definately in a league of their own. For Daath's latest and newest offering, 2009's "The Concealers" (released by Century Media via partnership with Roadrunner) they've brought in producer Jason Suecof (Trivium, DevilDriver, Bury Your Dead, God Forbid, Chimaira, All That Remains) to handle the production duties, as well as the engineering and mixing which are also both co-handled by Mark Lewis. "The Concealers" also marks the debut of new vocalist Sean Zatorsky, and he delivers one hell of a gut wrenching performance throughout this new album with aggressive screams and death growls, while axemen Emil Werstler and Eyal Levi both show off their razor sharp finesse with their awesome shredding riffs and sharp, blistering, hair raising solos especially on such album cuts like "The Unbinding Truth", "Translucent Potency", and "The Worthless". The solos on here are indeed a more focal point on here compared to the last album. Keving Talley (who's also pounded the skins with Dying Fetus, Misery Index, and Chimaira) also shows his ever so amazing skills behind the drums. He's truly one of the most talented and finest drummers in extreme metal today. The opening cut "Sharpen the Blades" is an addicting balls to the wall thrasher that boasts a catchy, fast, thumping drum beat, aggressive vocals, shredding riffs, as well as an addicting chorus, and a couple of wailing solos to go, while the next two tracks "Self-Corruption Manifesto", and "The Worthless" both continue the brutal sharpened onslaught. Both tracks are highlighted by some fantastic solo breaks especially the dualing solos on the latter mentioned song. The fourth track "The Unbinding Truth" (which I mentioned earlier on) is another great song that features more excellent solo work especially in the middle part, and track five "Silenced" has a nice, short blast beat intro that will make the ground tremble. Other highlights on here include "Wilting on the Vine", and "Translucent Potency" (the latter mentioned song starts off slow and menacingly, but later turns into an all-out headbanging onsluaght with vicious growls, hammering blast beats from Kevin, and fantastic dualing leadwork by Levi and Werstler to boot). "Duststorm" is a nice short instrumental that showcases the band's industrial influences as it features some techno-ish keyboards, that lead up to the next track "...of Poisoned Sorrows", and "Incestuous Amplification" is a blistering and fast thrashing album closer that litteraly speeds and hammers through your ears. Overall, "The Concealers" is an all-out well sharpened, blistering, and stunning metal assault from start to finish that will leave you winded and will have you coming back for more. This is truly one of the best metal cd's of 2009, and it's also a big step forward in the right direction for Daath. I can't wait for future releases from this awesome new band. Highly Recommended!!

im not sure why the negative review....i love this album its really fun to listen to....its not the most brutal stuff out there but daath definetly hold their own...mostly in my opinion because their sound is very unique yet remains significantly heavy, tight and well played. they blend several genres of metal together to create a very fun listening experience. my favorite thing about this album is, and the reason i gave it 5 stars, no matter what type of metal mood im in there seems to be a song on this album that addresses it. its very diverse and you can tell they took theyre time writing this album. good cd and it should be in your collection no doubt.

I really loved The Hinders, it is by far my most favourite piece of music. Their vocalist is the best, the way the guitar drums and vocals blend into a sharp thorn of music is perfect. This album doesn't have the same spark, doesn't have the flare or in your face expression.

Really disappointed, I think I read they have a new singer, if their old singer starts another band I'll be sure to check that out, I think he had alot to do with their creativity judging in the complete transformational of their sound from original and epic to just another metal band.

grew on me, one of my favourite albums now