Klatzke
08/21/08, 08:20 PM
Amplexus - Deus Ex Machina
Record Label: None
Release Date: December 3, 2007
I think we all know that Alternative Press gets a lot of things wrong. They're usually pretty mixed up on release dates, reviews, and well... facts. However, one thing I've never seen them more wrong on is the "You Like? You'll Like" section on Amplexus' unsigned showcase bio. According to them, you'll like Amplexus if you like Emery, Killswitch Engage, or The Recieving End of Sirens; which is one of the most confusing things I've ever read. Amplexus has none of the melodic brutality of Killswitch Engage, none of the catchy post-hardcore of Emery, nor do they sound anything like The Receiving End of Sirens. While I see the slightest (very far fetched) resemblance to Killswitch Engage, Emery and The Receiving End of Sirens are so far off that it's almost laughable. Though they got a lot wrong, Alternative Press did earn a little of my respect back just by featuring Amplexus.
All things Alternative Press aside, Deus Ex Machina is a stellar debut album. Genre-wise, it's an enigma. The best way I can think to label it is ultra-melodic metalcore, but even that doesn't truly explain it; it's predominantly sung, but with enough screamed vocals to keep those of us that are into it interested. The instrumentation is a big part of the album; for the most part, it's what you'd expect from this kind of album. Whether they're playing hard or melodic, the guitarists know what they're doing. While most production schemes seem to have the bass overshadowed by the other instruments, Chris Yannon's bass is a noticeable part of the album (especially during his scattered solo lines). The drummer utilizes his double bass often, but doesn't just pound on it throughout entire songs like a lot of "harder" artists seem to think they need to. One thing that often surfaces are the impressive dual vocal harmonies between the lead vocalist Mahlon Rhodes, and lead guitarist Billy Liber Jr. Rhodes' vocals are a bit more impressive, but it's obvious that Liber can also sing. They've got two completely different sounds to their vocals; Rhodes' are solid and have a larger range, and Liber's are much softer and have a more emotional quality to them.
Amplexus' songwriting is pretty impressive. The songs fit together well, but avoid repetition. Each song has its own sound and it helps keep those of us with unnaturally short attention spans focused for more than a couple of songs. They've all got differing structures: some of them are predominately sung, some of them have more screaming. The one flaw with their songwriting is the length of their songs; all of their songs are above the three-and-a-half-minute mark, and many of them drag on to four or five. They all start out promising, they just reach a certain point where they climax and the end of the song just seems to drag.
I don't hesitate to say that Amplexus is one of the best unsigned bands in this scene. Deus Ex Machina has it's slight flaws, but overall, it's an extremely solid album. The vocals, musicianship, and song structures are all impressive. Alternative Press may not have had a clue how to recommend them, but I'll give them some of my respect just for nudging Amplexus into the spotlight.
Upon Beauty Rests; akissforjersey; Destroy the Runner's I, Lucifer
myspace.com/amplexusrock (http://www.myspace.com/amplexusrock)
Record Label: None
Release Date: December 3, 2007
I think we all know that Alternative Press gets a lot of things wrong. They're usually pretty mixed up on release dates, reviews, and well... facts. However, one thing I've never seen them more wrong on is the "You Like? You'll Like" section on Amplexus' unsigned showcase bio. According to them, you'll like Amplexus if you like Emery, Killswitch Engage, or The Recieving End of Sirens; which is one of the most confusing things I've ever read. Amplexus has none of the melodic brutality of Killswitch Engage, none of the catchy post-hardcore of Emery, nor do they sound anything like The Receiving End of Sirens. While I see the slightest (very far fetched) resemblance to Killswitch Engage, Emery and The Receiving End of Sirens are so far off that it's almost laughable. Though they got a lot wrong, Alternative Press did earn a little of my respect back just by featuring Amplexus.
All things Alternative Press aside, Deus Ex Machina is a stellar debut album. Genre-wise, it's an enigma. The best way I can think to label it is ultra-melodic metalcore, but even that doesn't truly explain it; it's predominantly sung, but with enough screamed vocals to keep those of us that are into it interested. The instrumentation is a big part of the album; for the most part, it's what you'd expect from this kind of album. Whether they're playing hard or melodic, the guitarists know what they're doing. While most production schemes seem to have the bass overshadowed by the other instruments, Chris Yannon's bass is a noticeable part of the album (especially during his scattered solo lines). The drummer utilizes his double bass often, but doesn't just pound on it throughout entire songs like a lot of "harder" artists seem to think they need to. One thing that often surfaces are the impressive dual vocal harmonies between the lead vocalist Mahlon Rhodes, and lead guitarist Billy Liber Jr. Rhodes' vocals are a bit more impressive, but it's obvious that Liber can also sing. They've got two completely different sounds to their vocals; Rhodes' are solid and have a larger range, and Liber's are much softer and have a more emotional quality to them.
Amplexus' songwriting is pretty impressive. The songs fit together well, but avoid repetition. Each song has its own sound and it helps keep those of us with unnaturally short attention spans focused for more than a couple of songs. They've all got differing structures: some of them are predominately sung, some of them have more screaming. The one flaw with their songwriting is the length of their songs; all of their songs are above the three-and-a-half-minute mark, and many of them drag on to four or five. They all start out promising, they just reach a certain point where they climax and the end of the song just seems to drag.
I don't hesitate to say that Amplexus is one of the best unsigned bands in this scene. Deus Ex Machina has it's slight flaws, but overall, it's an extremely solid album. The vocals, musicianship, and song structures are all impressive. Alternative Press may not have had a clue how to recommend them, but I'll give them some of my respect just for nudging Amplexus into the spotlight.
Upon Beauty Rests; akissforjersey; Destroy the Runner's I, Lucifer
myspace.com/amplexusrock (http://www.myspace.com/amplexusrock)