Originally written by Erik Thomas.
Synopsis:
My review of this band’s impressive debut, Terminate Damnation, was a lighting rod of polarity where progressive death metal stalwarts and Christianity clashed as to whether such a band belonged on death metal. Well here is the follow-up album, and I expect much the same response, as the ceonceptual The Physics Of Fire is much the same album but with some subtle developments.
Review:
I’ll try to focus on the music here rather than the obvious ‘should Christians be allowed in death metal’ discussions, as I’m sure that will be handled in the lashes. However, not being graced with a Dan Seagrave cover, may lesson the furor, and ultimately I hear a little less Opeth on this record and a little more Unearth, but also some other stuff that shows the band is growing.
Make no mistake, this band is a death metal band at heart and even though increased clean vocals and synths as well as more streamlined songs litter the album, the material is still adventurous, experimental and ultimately Christian death metal. To tell you the truth, the first album, Back To Times Of Splendour by Disillusion actually came to mind several times (just listen to the tracks “Immolation” and “Autopsy”).
Still mixing epic, progressive tones, acoustics and lavish synths with a form of melodic yet experimental death metal, BTA are unquestionably an incredibly talented and ambitious act with the only sticking point for most metal fans being the Christian themes. On a purely musical level, they are head and shoulders Solid State’s best band, though I’m not as blown away as I was with the debut. There are some stunning tracks on here like the afore mentioned duo of “Immolation” and “Autopsy” as well as “The Great Fall (The Physics of Fire)”, “Fire Made Flesh (The Physics of Fire Pt 2)”, the rather catchy standout “The Monolith” and the shifting “Construct and Collapse” and as with the debut there is some introspective, graceful acoustic moments like “Nocturne”, but they seem lessened. However, despite the fact there really isn’t a truly ‘weak’ track on this album, it’s missing that hugely epic eleven minute number such as “Elegy” from the debut. “Second Death” and the eight minute “The Balance Of Eternity (The Physics of Fire Pt 4)” (I’m not sure where part 3 went) try admirably, but falls a tad short.
Overall, a damn fine album, though it doesn’t quite match the debut’s eloquence and melding of death metal and progressive metalcore, as I can feel the progressive metalcore elements starting to take over, resulting in a band more like Nehemah.
Still though, The Showdown’s throne is now officially taken.
