Customer Reviews

Rareform

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first heard this bands original album, I wasn't blown away. It was cool and had some really interesting rhythms and melody, but it wasn't mind blowing. As soon as I heard Cursing Akenaten, track 3 of the album, I knew it was a must to get this. Never have once have I skipped a song on the CD. Every time I start the cd while driving, I intend to go to a track favorite, but always end up listening to the whole CD. It's that good.

The CD stands on it's own without needing a leading tack to keep your interest. The Meshuggah influence is evident, but in a good way. The melody off set it so well that it really makes you wonder what else can be done with this sort of poly-rhythmic assault.

Bottom line, do yourself a favor and at least preview the tracks, it's an album that will remain true to it's form no matter how you try and dissect it, metal simply does not get better than this.

This is death metal at times, guitar wizardy at other times. Forget the subject matter, you can only interpret a little of it by ear. The solos kick me in the teeth, though some sound a little familiar thematically (can't place where from). I don't especially like death metal. For fans of complex guitar work, and a little noise in the interim. I been curb'd by rareform.
By the way, this Sumerian Records needs to support their bands better. I did a search and so many of their bands got one album published, never to be heard from again. Still waiting on Conducting from the Grave.

Well, I didn't get the originally recorded Rareform album that was advertised, but I got the re-recorded one and I'm cool with that. It's a really great album by a very incredible, talented band. If you're into at least a little bit of metalcore or progressive hard rock/metal check it out.

All I can say is if your a fan of any kind of metal especially metalcore than get this CD it's one of the best I've heard and I listen to alot of underground or metal/deathcore bands. After I seen them live I had to have this CD and I was not disappointed at all.

The technical creativity of this band makes any math major happy!
I love this cd and for those reading this review, the previous comment about this being the re-issue is wrong, this is the 2008 regular first release of this cd.
The re-issue enhanced cd 2009 is here
http://www.amazon.com/Rareform-Reissue-After-Burial/dp/B002ISID0G

The 2009 re-issue's cover is all dark, the 2008 origional release is 2 tone light on top dark on bottom half of cd.

I first listen to these guys on their first album, forging a future self. I wasnt too into this branch of metal at first, but the irregularity of the music with the melody and the offbeats and things, it really grows on you. After listening to forging several times over after a little listening hiatus, i came back to them and it opened my eyes. I have waited a long time for this album, and it blew me away.

Defnitely remind me of veil of maya, or other way around i guess, but these guys are undeniably talented, and i hope to see a lot more from them. It's a great combination of heavy beats, melody, and gruffness. It is a different taste, but I'm sick of eating the same thing every day.

Album is amazing.

Let me start out by saying that I am fully aware that I am writing a review for the re-recorded (not re-released) album. That is exactly why I give it 2 stars.

I found out about ATB fairly early into their career. The original Rareform was great for the most part (some filler tracks, but the stars shone like hell). I don't tend to listen to metalcore, deathcore, hardcore, any-core really, I was just introduced to the album from a friend. Never the less, I still really enjoyed it. Tracks 1, 2, and 3 are really REALLY good material.

Then they got a new vocalist....and instead of writing new material, they just decided to redo their first album again. I thought that was ridiculous, seeing as the album was barely a year old anyway, but whatever, not my band. Then after it came out, I decided to listen to the new one via youtube, since I don't need to pay for something I already have.

My first impression was that the production had gotten a little heavier and overall, better. Not that the first one was bad, but this sounded way more solid. Then the vocalist stepped up. You know that feeling when you haven't seen an old TV show in a really long time and you spend years trying to get a hold of just one episode so you can see it again...then you succeed and find out that the show really sucked now that you're older? Yeah, a bit of a rant, but that's what came to my mind. The new vocalist has absolutely no passion whatsoever. The previous vocalist did deep growls, midrange, yells, and even some black metal screams :) This new guy seems to be stuck in the same pitch practically for the whole album...very one dimensional. Plus the vocals are less harsh. This guy would seem to fit more in bands like Unearth or All That Remains (without the singing). So here I am, used to certain pitch changes and lenths of screams and then this guy comes along and just destoys everything I think I know.

If that's not bad enough, they change some guitar parts too. Parts that were very catchy and blended great with the music in the first album now have become boring and sound a little too similar to other ATB riffs in the new album...I say new like it is new...It's not. It's old material gone bad. This album is Michael Jordan coming out of retirement, it's like the difference between Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory vs Tim Burton's travesty of almost the same name. It's, as my title suggests, pathetic.

If you like deathcore, buy this. The cd is flawless. The solos are awesome and the breakdowns are good. Delicious cover art. Great vocals and lyrics(I always check out the lyrics of a cd to see how good it is). Grant is my favorite vocalist from After the Burial. He has some good stuff in his other band, Nostalia. Check them out on myspace; they have a free album download. Fav. song: A Vicious Reforming of Features.

I found out about this band in early 09 and they've been one of my favorites since. Every song on this album is great but there are stand out tracks such as Aspiration and Ometh. The reissue took some getting used to because of the new vocals but the overall sound is much better than the original Rareform. As a whole this is a step forward from their first album "Forging a future self" but if you haven't heard that one yet you should because it's an amazing album as well. If you are a fan of any kind of metal definitely give this one a few listens as I'm sure you'll find something you like with this band.

One of my favorite CD's i have gotten in a while. Its a great CD with catchy, sort of progressive sounding riffs, with awesome breakdowns, and i like the new vocalist better than the old one. Some people think its more generic, he's definitely more metalcore, but thats what i like. They rerecorded the drums and added some extra things in that give the album a much better overall sound. anyways, if you like metal and metalcore, this is a great buy. Great for fans of Born of Osiris, or maybe Veil of Maya.