Reviews

Let's try this again.

Since I have been writing for this here website, I have been given a slew of records to review. None has left me as confused as At All Cost's new record, Circle of Demons. Now, there is nothing confusing about the music, I just have no idea how to describe this record; it's pretty fucking amazing and pretty fucking unique. After those two statements, I'm basically left with nothing else to say. I am in awe of what I have heard and also a little exhausted after listening to this forty-two minute album.

Press play: Before I have a chance to light my smoke, the record explodes with the title cut, Circle of Demons. I am caught off guard and actually have to restart the song around four times because I'm just not ready. The track starts with growling vocals and machine gun guitars, thrashing out into an up-tempo chorus, leading into an incredible octave solo, and then starting over. Then out of nowhere they break it down. All of this is crammed into a song that is around three minutes long. I am amazed; Mastodon does all of this in five to seven minutes. At All Cost, two-and-a-half to four minutes. This becomes quite the successful formula.

Almost every track is around three to four minutes, and every song is a fucking mind trip. The changing in tempos and styles is quite impressive, and it is really incredible to discover that it is all orchestrated into such short spans of time. After every song, it's like "whoa, what the fuck just happened? Did it even really happen?" Every track is a mini epic and they all blend seamlessly.

The fifth track, "Ride Through the Storm," is an excellent example. The track takes the listener all over the roadmap of metal, and this is the best way to describe it. Picture elements of every heavy metal style, and they all find their home somewhere on this track.

It is not only amazing that every track is a small masterpiece, but the instrumentation is also outstanding. Everything from ripping solos to vocoder hooks, synthesizers to the drum and acoustic guitar parts. It is quite surprising, and every track is perfect.

The only gripe is that after half of the record, it seems like everything has been pulled from their bag of tricks. This is what makes the record so exhausting; there is a lot to take in on every track, almost overloading the brain. You will have to dwell on the record for at least an hour, basically regaining your wits...this is not a bad thing.

Overall, Circle of Demons by At All Cost is a phenomenal record. The mastery of their craft is something to appreciate. You can tell that At All Cost has a large number of influences from across the map and they are able to blend them all together to create a sound all their own. Everything from Mastodon to Iron Maiden to Slayer to Metallica to Daft Punk. Yes, Daft Punk. The electronic elements and computerized vocals just add to the insanity that is Circle of Demons.