Automb - Chaosophy

Key Facts

Country: 🇺🇸

Genre: Blackened Death Metal

Release Date: 25th March 2020

Record Label(s): Witching Hour Productions

Band Members

Danielle Evans- Vocals, Keys & Bass

Serge Streltsov- Guitar, Backing Vocals

Matt Francis - Live Drums

Scott Fuller - Session Drums (Studio Releases)

Automb -  Chaosophy

Review 

Rating (out of 5🤘): 🤘🤘🤘

Favourite Track(s): Transmigration Omega, Chaosophy, Trishula, Cosmic Tyranny

Automb are back with a much anticipated new album, Chaosophy. The follow up to 2018's Esoterica, which I thought showed the band's future potential, unfortunately in my opinion hasn't really departed from the stencilled in Blackened Death Metal format. I thought the lead single was quite aggressive and definitely got me excited for the rest of the album, however hearing it in it's full album context it doesn't particularly stand out to me as much as it did. Don't get me wrong this album does have its killer riff moments and glimpses of greatness but for me personally, it kind of feels a bit underwhelming.

Musically, Chaosophy is fast and aggressive and has a no holds barred, take no prisoners approach to its songwriting, but that's basically it. Starting at one hundred and staying there for the whole duration of the album. I get about halfway through and I already feel worn down by the lack of dynamics and riff variation. With hints of some of the more black metal elements that the band pushed forward in debut album Esoterica, making some appearances, the majority is this ruthlessly fast, blunt force death metal. The only song that sort of breaks the album up is Trishula, which is a more traditional style black metal song with a decent harmonised riff and more waltz-like style that old school black metal has. After that is when the album seemingly comes to life with Cosmic Tyranny and Raganraok, harking back to the slower doom filled, black metal style of Esoterica. By then it almost feels a too little too late situation for the listener. I can appreciate the band wanting to go into a more death metal direction but it's made their riffs sound very plain and generic for me personally. Some of the mid-album songs drag a little but that's made up by the last three songs, almost like getting the semi-decent songs out the way before firing on all cylinders for the last three. It's quite a weird album in that sense as Trishula, Cosmic Tyranny and Ragnarok sound really thought out and true to their sound, with variation and slower, stripped back sections with a bit more attention to the atmosphere they're trying to create. Songs like Serpent Of The Night and Hel are, I hate to say it, just boring for me to listen to. Like I said in the into there are some good moments on the album that make you wonder why the rest of the album doesn't follow that blueprint instead of this over used death metal algorithm. Overall, I'm a bit disappointed with the songwriting on this album as Esoterica set the foundations but I feel that the construction project got a bit stunted on the first floor. I'm hoping on the next album the band can realise that potential and break the ceiling. 

The production is dark and gritty, which is something I really like. The guitar tones are chunky and thick in the mids but razor sharp in the high end creating a really good contrast and variance in the sound. The drums are thunderous in the low end, plenty of click and thump in the kick drums, but I think the snare gets lost in the mix a little bit. There doesn't seem to be the aggressive snap that I'd personally expect from it. Whilst the cymbals cut through ok, it does feel like they're a little dull in the high end. It just makes the mix sound very singular and close, although that in itself does create a different type of atmosphere. Overall its a good mix in areas but also nothing spectacular.

Like I've said, I'm quite disappointed with this album. I had high expectations going into it, that I will admit but it just feels same-y with very little dynamic change. Despite that, I did enjoy a few songs that I think highlight progression and I hope to see songs of a similar vein to those that I have highlighted in the future. 

Automb - Chaosophy