Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Biomechanical - "Empires of the Worlds" - Earache/Elite - 2005

Track Listing 1. Enemy Within 2. The Empires Of The World 3. Assaulter 4. Relinquished Destiny 5. Long Time Dead 6. Regenerated 7. DNA Metastasis 8. Survival 9. Existenz 10. Truth Denied Absolution: 11. Part 1 - Final Offence 12. Part 2 - From The Abyss 13. Part 3 - Absolution 14. Part 4 - Disintegration

The British are coming, indeed! Along with the high profile releases this year from Judas Priest and Bruce Dickinson, another band is out to fly high the flag of British Steel. Instead of being retro-hip patriarchs from the past, they are ultra-modern and out to carve a legacy of their own. They are Biomechanical.

Biomechanical's newest release "Empires of the Worlds" is a continuation of their prior CD "Eight Moons" which was a relatively introspective look into the mind of a homeless man who would transform into a biomechanical creature that fought his substance-fears in dreams. This time around it's about our endless thirst to conquer different races from the eyes of a single person who becomes one with the human effort to dominate all life. There is some overlap of musical and lyrical elements from Eight Moons, but EotW is more menacing overall and has an approach that is way more vicious and extreme.

Moving from Revolver Records to Earache Records, I'd say this is their cusp record--the Sophmore release that breaks a band out into a wider audience before they hit the bigger successes with wider name recognition. It could be their Number of the Beast; their Ride the Lightning; their Vulgar Display of Power. Vocals from John K, are over-the-top and phenomenal covering a wide range from deep growls to ear-piercing wails that are multi-layered and often times delivered completely different from chorus to verse. Musically, it's very complex and I'd say that this time there are less lead guitar melodies in favor of a rhythmic guitar approach that is harder-edged and way more brutal. The filmscore elements are there, less prevalent and unnecessary early on till the final major 4-part song.

The first few songs are in all out attack mode. "Enemy Within" is a crushing opening; a radical blend of vocal layers, tearing guitars and just a touch of the soundtrack elements that were in the prior release. "Empires of the Worlds" is a showpiece more traditionally structured with a hooky chorus and a punchy rhythm that reigns blow upon blow onto your quivering skull only to be hit by "Assaulter" which goes even further into thrash until it descends into a malstorm of speed and insanity. The next couple songs add in some lighter moments on guitar and some slower doomy riffs, but by "Regenerated", the killer returns to wrek havok again. "DNA Metastasis" is the closest to the prior CD with vocals providing melody. "Existenz" stands with the best of Rob Halford's Fight numbers and "Survival" mixes a touch of Slayer. "Truth Denied" is an insane thrash-up before dropping into the dramatic four-part Absolution.

Biomechanical takes metal to absolute new heights. This is the best metal band to emerge in years!

Score: 10 of 10


--Nailer 05.09.05