Year: 2020
Total Time: 43:42
Label: Mighty Music
Year 2020 seems to be fertile for band reunions and also an inspiring year for significant bands to release worth listening albums. WITHERING SURFACE’s demo “Unique” was voted as the best demo recording of 1995 by the Danish National Radio. Carrying this distinction, the quintet from Naestved has recorded it’s first two albums in Fredman Studios, fully inspired by the Swedish melodic Death Metal scene, however, after a couple of less interesting records they split up in 2004 until their reformation in 2020 and the release of “Meet Your Maker”.
The opening self-titled track, fully melodic with constant rhythm changing, contains some KREATOR-ish elements, as far as it concerns the vocals and the groove, that’s is very interesting. On the other hand, the following “Raised Light” is so commonplace, being a pointless early filler. The only good thing here is the guitar solo at the end of the song, which is a rather good bridge to “Alone” where WITHERING SURFACE show us their ability to create some nicely made music. Melodic Swedish Death Metal, equal valued as IN FLAMES’ and SOILWORK’s golden era, with the necessary middle interlude and the DARK TRANQUILITY blast at the end. Listening to “Room 417” I rised from my armchair and raised my fist since, this song is a tribute to IN FLAMES’ best moments. Melodies, catchy riffing, rhythm guitars, groove, a great mix of these elements and a nostalgia diffuse. A nostalgia that remains in “In A City Without Soul”, since the band has added some Black Metal features, reminding a bit of DISSECTION. In this case the keyboard sound is brilliant accompaniment to Allan Tredebrink and Marcel Lech guitars. “Leaves In The Storm” is also melodic yet aggressive song, with references to CHILDREN OF BODOM this time, especially at the guitars and the chorus. In “I’ll Soon Be Gone”, Michael Andersen collaborates with Elizabeth Gorboi Andersen (probably his daughter) in a mid tempo song rather different than the rest, reaching the closing track “Apprentice” where we will remember who were WITHERING SURFACE back in 1997 and their great album “Scarlet Silhouettes” . The cover was created by Niclas Sundin and is a brilliant, unique masterpiece, while the production was made by Jcob Hansen, modern, well-polished, focused on guitars and drums but weaker for the other instruments.
I had a great time listening to “Meet Your Maker”. I made headbanging at my office, air-drumming in the car, air-guitaring at home, even raised my glass of beer making a toast to Melodic Death Metal. I’m glad for WITHERING SURFACE’s return, but if they will insist playing in the same style as 25 years ago, they will be forgotten soon, as more fresh and significant releases will be my cup of tea. The last thing we need at the time speaking is a tribute band of IN FLAMES and SOILWORK. However, the addition of some Black Metal elements, the KREATOR’s mid-era groove plus the fact that “Meet Your Maker” is an identifier, made me look at WS with a slight compassion, waiting to see if a music evolution will occur in the future…
Rating: 7/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: WITHERING SURFACE – Facebook Page
