Maximum Metal Rating Legend

December - The Lament Configuration - reviewed by: AFS

Track Listing1. Icenine 2. Vertigo 3. Waiting for Rain 4. Host 5. Trial 6. The Sleeping Throne 7. Token Gesture 8. By Example 9. Play Dead 10. Quiet Cold

Produced by metal mastermind Devin Townsend, December’s “The Lament Configuration” is a pleasant surprise.

Despite some of its hardcore elements, December really seems to not fall into a particular genre of metal much like Lamb of God and from the opening track, “Icenine”, the influence of LoG is prevalent.
Unlike most Townsend produced albums, there seems to be a lack of harmonics both within the guitars and the vocals. There is no singing, just distorted screams. Unfortunately, the distortion may take away from the raw vocal styles some of you may look for. The music does carry the album as none of the songs blend together and ,like you’d find with Lamb of God, there are plenty of time and rhythmic changes.

December offers up plenty of good music to choose from. “Vertigo” is a high intensity, groove-laced track that has all the makings of a great song. “Trial” is a four-minute showcase of how to do a good hardcore/metal track right. Unfortunately, Lamb of God did it first.

This album has everything good about hardcore/metal. Unfortunately, despite Devin’s excellent work from the booth, December comes across at times as a Lamb of God rip-off. December shows a lot of promise. Yes, this album lacks some originality, but the fact remains that the disc is still a well-written and well-produced album that deserves a spin in everyone’s CD players.

--AFS 03.12.03