Band: Aletheian Album: Dying Vine Label: Iron Clad Recordings Rating: 7/10 Website: http://www.aletheian.com BUY NOW!

"Dying Vine" is only the third, full-length recording issued by Aletheian. Prior to 2003, the Pennsylvania-based act released one studio recording and took part in a Living Sacrifice tribute. Crutch's first recording "...Hope Prevails" was released under a label bearing the same name as the album. The band continued developing the progressive death style they show today, changing their name to Aletheian and releasing a couple more albums with Hope Prevails Productions. The final recording issued through Hope Prevails was titled "Dying Vine". Two years after this recording, Trevor Phipps of Unearth has recruited them to his new label, Iron Clad Recordings. The first order of business Aletheian took to upon signing to Phipp's label was to re-do their last album. "Dying Vine" take two gets a makeover courtesy of an Alan Douches re-mix and re-master. Douches seemed appropriate for the job, considering his work with many contemporary prog death acts Martyr and Beneath the Massacre. I have not heard the original, but I'll make the assumption based on his vaunted career that Douches enhanced their sound. The reissue also includes a cover of "How Could I" by Cynic. Aletheian picked the proper band to cover based on their style. Their music consists of complex timing and numerous changes. These facets stay consistent with the idea of progressive metal, as do the tight breaks and astute musical scales. Vocalist, Joel Thorpe switches between dry, mid range growls and shrieks. Alex Kenis occasionally interjects with clean vocals, adding a touch of mystique to their chaotically technical demeanor. These Ihsahn-like vocals are another ingredient to the atmosphere they create through keyboard and clean guitars. Their central focus, though, still revolves around bass, guitar and drums. Like most progressive metal bands, Aletheian includes exceptional musicianship by each member, and the group took aims to highlight these individual talents. Every track features at least one dazzling guitar solo by Donny Swigart or Alex Kenis, although, on average, both get their own solo. Drummer Joe Walmer begins "Broken Legacy" traversing around his drum kit, establishing the mathematical, though brief rhythm at the track's opening. This impressive display brings to mind Richard Christy's drum work on Death's last album. Alex Kenis (he's a one-man orchestra) follows a similar course with a cool bass lick at the beginning of "As the Fall Breaks". Since his long tenure with Unearth, Trevor Phipps has obviously become accustomed to brilliant musicians, so his choosing a band unlike Unearth doesn't come as all that much of a surprise. Each member of the group is definitely talented and creates brutal, yet technical and memorable tracks. The vocals are what kept this from maintaining a higher score. Both vocal styles are weak, and some of the multi-syllabic lyrics force Thorpe to say half the word, making the lyrics difficult to decipher even with the lyric book. Aletheian's musical ability is strong enough, though, to overlook the mediocre vocal performance. Darren Cowan Back to Reviews