DAYS OF LOSS – Our Frail Existence
- Posted on 03-02-2014
At certain times in one’s life, the unexpected elements hit you and align to create something outstanding and exemplary. In 2014, it’s very difficult to rise above the noise in the metal world, given the fact that all over the globe hundreds of bands are releasing new product weekly in the form of demos, singles, EP’s, albums, videos, DVD’s, and Blu-Rays: either in digital or physical formats. So when I pressed play on Vienna, Austria’s Days Of Loss and their second album "Our Frail Existence", I didn’t know if they would push the hairs of my body on edge- or push me over the edge.
Fortunately, the quintet solidly delivery a devastatingly catchy record of melodic death/thrash packed to the hilt with riffs, tempos, hooks, and adrenaline that most new bands wish they could muster. Attention to detail is the name of the game here: vocalist Ben Pauswek carefully keeping his words in time to the riffing during the bridge of "This Frail Existence", punctuated at the right transitions with dual guitar harmonies from new rhythm guitarist Ken Straetman and lead guitarist Alexander Schmid that bring to mind the long lost Massachusetts act Beyond the Embrace. "Await Pain" chugs along at mid-pace, the feel reminding me of "Whoracle"-era In Flames with a bit of Iron Maiden/ Metallica gallop during the instrumental sections. Other songs such as "Endtime" and "Circle’s End" give you a little bit of classic Nevermore meets Mercenary/Darkane punch, while "Corpsemourn" features a lot of the up tempo snare slam /double bass and high pitch speed guitar action that is necessary for all ardent melodic death/ thrash followers to champion, plus a circle pit worthy passage sure to send audiences into a frenzy.
Five years removed from their debut album "Life Is Decay", the band have improved themselves a hundred fold in all departments: the production is clearer, the attack is focused, with vocals that are less monotonous. Days Of Loss should be on the radar screen of all melodic death/ thrash followers, as "Our Frail Existence" is 41 minutes of masterful energy firing in the right aural capacity.