The long and drawn out downstroked guitar passages (see: every song) seem tedious and boring rather than captivating and mesmerizing, like a lamer version of Minsk. They mean to be progressive, but they just wind up putting people to sleep*. Even when the drums commit to riding out the groove, as in "Gnosis Unveils", it feels like it's going nowhere. The riffs are boring, the harmonies are predictable, and the vocals sound like a monster yawning – most likely at the boring riffs and predictable harmonies.

I listened and listened again, and there's just nothing that sticks. All of these tracks are like Mastodon b-sides that nobody ever cared to include on a rerelease of Blood Mountain. The technicality is there if you care to look, but the songwriting lacks entirely. I wonder if they've considered working as a cover band?

There are components of good music here and there, I guess. The closer, "Into Armageddon" is interesting in its way, a sort of mashup of Raised Fist and Arch Enemy that doesn't really sound like it belongs on the same album as most of these tracks. And "To Embrace" is a lot like "First Light" by Converge, which is, of course, awesome. So, if only Withered could find a way to connect these dots, they'd be on the right path. But as it is, these moments of awesomeness are the first and last tracks on the album. Everything between them is a bland road that branches off nowhere.

Withered aren't the most exciting metal band I've ever heard, but in all honesty they're not completely untalented; speaking from experience, you'd be better off seeing their energetic live set than listening to this, their stagnant studio album. Their ferocious attack takes to the stage a lot better than it does the recording room. So to give them a fair shot, look up their tour.

Don't Believe Me?
www.myspace.com/withered

Recommended If You Like:
Mastodon, Amorphis, Minsk