Pluto Records has a band with some serious aggression on their hands now. That band is As I Lay Dying and their new full length album is entitled Beneath the Encasing of Ashes. This disc is fast and furious, filled with chaos and melody each in their own times.
Blazing guitars off timed drums, and vocals as sick as they come you can put this band up against the new release by Luti-Kriss and it just blows it away. The creativity level of this band is what is most amazing they simply refuse to take the traditional or expected turns when it comes to song writing. From a short melodic piece to brutal double bass and frenzied guitars you get pummeled left and right on your trip through this CD. At just under 30 minutes, each of the 12 songs are pretty short. Almost half under the 3 minute mark and many under the 2 minute mark as well.
The lyrics are emotional, passionate and most importantly very Christ centered. Mostly the songs all deal with the struggles of coming to know God, unworthiness of His repentance and the change His love can make in a life. It's worth noting that never once do they actually say God or Jesus but the meaning is still intact. This is evangelical music at its best. These guys want to show the unsaved person that there is something better and they've found it.
Lister's bottom line on this CD? It's an amazing release by a new band that will certainly be a mainstay for fans of older Zao, Luti-Kriss, Stretch Arm Strong, or Narcissus. Be sure to drop by their website and at least check out the MP3s they have.
8.5/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #91Reviewed by Michial FarmerPounding rock has turned into a main course for many a record company's balanced diet. A prime example of this quasi-revolution is As I Lay Dying. From the second you hit play you will repeatedly be saying to yourself, "Is ZAO doing a side project?" Although there are striking similarities between the two bands, As I Lay Dying does do justice to the formidable comparison. Songs like "Forced to…Decapolis 2001Reviewed by MarkAs I first popped this CD into my player, I had high hopes. The production on this record is very thick and heavy, as if Joe Barresi were recording a Coalesce album, and the vocal style is low and growly (which I prefer over high and screamy). As I continued to listen, I started to get bored. Many of the songs have that mid-tempo mosh feel to them and some of the guitar riffs are very repetitive.…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Josh SpencerThe short review: As I Lay Dying are at the bank trying to cash checks written by Zao and Converge. The slightly longer review: This is metalcore with death and black metal vocals. Mid-tempo grooves like a mutha, dropkicking basslines to shake your system. The chaos fades into soft, beautiful interludes periodically, and melodic guitar lines cruise over the top rhythms to help it all go down…Similar sounding releases
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1997Living SacrificeReborn
2004Mortal TreasonA Call to the Martyrs
2003A Jealousy IssueIf The Flames Don't Kill Us, We Will
2005UnearthOur Days of Eulogy
2003IntegrityTo Die For
