There is nothing like a solid metal CD done right. There's just something freeing about loud driving guitars, heavy drumlines and screaming vocals that lets you let go of your stress and relax, as intense as the music may be.
What's great about this particular example is the fact that this album comes from Flint-based local band Avenue Sky, coming off pair of shows at The Machine Shop.
Avenue Sky, with ties to UM-Flint, with current student Don Dobos and UM-Flint alum Christian Konkle, guitarist and vocalist, respectively, recently released their debut EP, Decades, and it is a very solid effort.
As with many local and unsigned bands, production value on albums may be low and leave the sound on the album very poor, but in this case, it sounds very professionally done.
Every song seemingly starts very softly, with the guitar slowly and simplistically opening the song before the rest of the band kicks in with a driving rhythm section. "Identify" is a solid example of this, with an intro that somewhat echoes an old-school feel before the rhythm kicks in. It's an intoxicating guitar riff that just hooks you in and keeps you listening when chaos breaks out for the remainder of the track.
The lyrical side of things, Konkle seems to have a strong grasp on the poetic side of crafting a solid metal track. But it's his vocals that shine throughout. On the softer side that carry the lighter halves of the six-track EP, he does a great job of carrying the melody, but when the heavier sections kick in, he has a growl and scream that really brings this album to being very strong.
What was very good about this album, comparing it to other metal albums, is the fact that it is not as overpowering as others. Other metal albums may have the drums or bass turned up too loud, the vocals may get drowned in the music, it's a trait that shuts down quite a few albums. The production value is what makes this a good effort, because they found a good balance for every instrument, including Konkle's vocals, to ring through the start of the album to the intense conclusion.
GRADE: B
Andrew can be reached at afergers@umflint.edu.
