Anata - Under A Stone With No Inscription
2003 - Wicked World Records
By Philip Whitehouse
Go to the
Wicked World website.
If fractal graphics and Mandelbrot patterns are intended to be the visual representations of Chaos Theory, then perhaps the world's mathematicians could do worse than to use the music of Anata as the aural representation of the principles. For, just as within the apparently random and chaotic graphics generated fractals there remains an underlying order which only reveals itself through closer inspection of the visuals, within Anata's noisecore-esque dissonance and dizzying technicality there remains a thread of pure, brutalising death metal.
Opening track 'Shackled To Guilt' explodes from the speakers like shards of flaming debris hurled from some violent eruption, assaulting the listener with chaotic but never ostentatious riffery, some truly gnarly bass work, tight drumming and the growling throat-abuse of the band's vocalists. The music seems a little pared-down from previous Anata albums, but still retains the concentration-grabbing level of complexity that lifts them above the mire of other death metal acts.
The breakneck pace of the album is retained throughout, with the listener rarely getting an opportunity to catch their breath. Stunning musicianship abounds, with the 4-finger tapping sections of album highlight 'Entropy Within' proving the musical dexterity of the guitarists. Some more mid-tempo sections would possibly be an idea though, as the constant battery can get a little tiring - but for the most part, this is an outstanding display of brutal, technical face-removal. Well worth a look.
8/10
