Wine apparently gets better with age, I wouldn’t know because I normally don’t drink wine that costs more than £7 but that’s what they say. So, does Metal get better with age? For the most part I’m going to say no, classics are classics for a reason. This is kind of true amid most forms of entertainment, but then again time makes classics you could say. Anyway, I think Death Metal (to an extent) has got better with age (ignore Deathcore perhaps), I prefer BDM to OSDM for example and when it comes to Tech I like mine modern with the odd bit of OSTDM (that almost rivals NWOBHM) thrown in here and there.

Why am I talking about Tech, well because of In Asymmetry, the new project from most notably Darren Cesca of the timeless Deeds Of Flesh. He’s also in Goratory too who I love. Anyway this newly formed quartet aim to bring some fresh Tech Death to the scene, rather uncharacteristic for a Comatose Music release. None the less I was intrigued to check this debut, Ashes Of Dead Worlds out. So, is this debut the start of something great or is it tried and tested generic Death Metal?

Whom Prey On The Weak opens with mysterious ambience before plunging straight into some all out Death Metal madness. It’s not a lingering intro and thus I’ll forgive it. The actual Metal inside though is very atypical of more traditional Tech Death, not overtly complex with an emphasis on speed over sheer wizardry. The vocals are perhaps the most modern thing about it, they have a generally guttural tone, but not one that could be considered BDM, and the odd higher scream is reminiscent of (good) Deathcore, but not in a bad way. By the time we get to Hatred Towards The Holy Creature I begin to understand that variation is not the word for this album. It’s technically accomplished but not particularly inventive. I hate to sound like some trendy hipster but Tech Death really is a genre that has gotten a lot better in later years. This is very much of the 90s, with some added brutality and little to rave about. Forged By The Ancient Entity throws up a more melodic section which is kind of exactly what this album is lacking, more of this should be dotted about the release.

Sadly the title track falls back to the bands old ways. I do enjoy some of the riffs in here and the Tech notion certainly flows a bit better but again it’s almost too little too late. Thou Art Prayed By The Nazarenes has another sort of ominous intro. It’s totally out of place, pointless and quite frankly boring at this stage. Indeed it’s here that I think I can very much call the album one note. The drums (whilst good) seldom deviate from the same rumbling, the same could even be said for the guitars. Undoubtedly I could never play this music, and all the musicians are clearly accomplished, but for me it’s on the lighter side of Tech, not nearly enough experimentation and madness for my liking The final song, a cover of the Deeds Of Flesh track Sense Of The Diabolic is very sadly the best on the album, upstaged by previous exploits at the albums close, not a good sign for me.

I’d be highly unlikely to listen to this again, don’t get me wrong it has a place. I think if you’re less into more outrageous guitar bullshit then this’ll scratch that Tech Death itch. For me though I love how utterly lacking in boundaries the Tech scene has become. As such this is just far too safe for me. Death Metal is and always has been about shock, extremity and most importantly go big or go home. I find it hard to understand why any fan of Death Metal wouldn’t want to push the genre to the limit, so this is just rather middle of the road and forgettable to me.

(5/10 George Caley)

https://www.facebook.com/inasymmetry

https://comatosemusic.bandcamp.com/track/ashes-of-dead-worlds