It always surprises me when something so standard emerges from the not-so-standard progressive death metal sub-genre. One would think the limitless gardens of innovation stemming from this colorful niche would prompt a band like Over Your Threshold to release something dizzyingly creative, but "Facticity" proves otherwise. The record's blueprint sacrifices everything that makes strange death metal interesting for bloated, weightless technicality and ear-popping situations that quickly become piecemeal and tedious, instead of meshing various traits into a perplexing melting pot of metallic ingenuity. In other words, "Facticity" is another model of this sub-genre's ongoing intellectual descent, trading its blood and soul for a quick-fix of mathematical gratification that left an avid fan of this sound (me) feeling starved. It's like a Michael Bay film: throwing in a bunch of CGI robots blowing sh*t up with a multi-million dollar budget of special effects doesn't make up for the glaring issues in its plot and meaning. Not to imply I discriminate against robots blowing sh*t up; that will always have my seal of approval.But Over Your Threshold aren't a horde of slaughtering machines, and they certainly aren't remotely entertaining. "Facticity" is more or less a large collection of musical scrapes stripped into a pointless regurgitation of works by Cynic, Atheist, and other superior groups that most likely inspired Over Your Threshold. Yes, there are riffs, but that's really all I can say. The band lifelessly chugs from section to section, each utilizing weird guitar parts, fluctuating bass lines, and spastic percussion with a complex blanket layered over all. The main problem that emerges from this routine postulate (for the sub-genre's followers, anyway) is its inability to find stability. "Facticity" sounds like getting lost. The songs are so aimlessly directionless that I can't listen to it or I'll end up in Ohio. Things like starting points, ending points, transitions, interludes or cohesion are surprisingly rare; everything sounds randomized and poorly constructed. Also, their vocalist is awful. He just barks and barks and barks and barks and barks in the same monotone register; it's just really, really bad stuff.
I suppose the only characteristic left to address is Over Your Threshold's instrumental ability, which certainly shines some light on the faction's style. Granted, the entire pie definitely spits up its share of noteworthy riffs, and the extravagant guitar leads are very impressible too. And yeah, there are some crazy experimental instruments and ideas dropping in for a casual hello as well; I certainly can't complain about that. However, the flash is just that: flash. It's insane; it's complicated; it's maniacal progressive/technical death metal...without any rhyme, reason, or accomplishments. If you don't care about songwriting or a sense of direction, grab "Facticity" and knock yourself out; it'll be your favorite record.
Other folks will not be satisfied. Sure, they can technically out-perform any squad out there, but who cares? These dudes couldn't write a cohesive, infatuating tune if one pissed on their cerebral cortexes. Technical stuff like this doesn't have to be a whirlwind of slurred riffs and rocky rhythms to appear smart or focused. Look at Cynic; look at Atheist; look at other progressive/technical death metal bands that have credible followings because their material balances between natures both perplexing and sustainable. It's like a treasure hunt: few know what they're doing, most are on track, and there's that one clueless group that walks in circles for hours, thinking they are somehow progressing. Unfortunately for Over Your Threshold, there's no GPS available in the music game, and we get nothing but a sub-par record that retraces itself ad nauseam.