By Carl Zielinski

Gargoyle staff reporter


Posted Tuesday, April 3, 2007, The OG, arts

AT A GLANCE

— CD: Symphorce, “Become Death”

— Release date: March 20, 2007

— Symphorce's Web site

— Symphorce's MySpace page

— Symphorce's Wikipedia entry

DESPITE BEING TOGETHER for eight years and releasing six albums, Germany's Symphorce have managed to crank out another enjoyable, energetic record bursting at the seams with melody and creativity.

But don't let the title, “Become Death,” scare you. This is some of the lightest, most listenable metal I've heard all year, and it is perfect for those who are either unfamiliar with the genre or who hold prejudices against it.

The major star throughout the album ends up being singer Andy Franck. His soaring, powerful voice provides the driving force throughout the album's entirety, providing catchy yet dark choruses, as well as aggressive verses.

I found myself singing along to most of the songs on the record, although my favorites ended up being the choruses of “Darkness Fills the Sky,” “Condemned,” “Hopes of a Dream,” and “Inside the Cast.” For a genre that is filled with vocalists who either growl or shout, hearing someone with Franck's range and tone was truly uplifting.

That's not to say the rest of the band isn't living to their responsibilities. Guitarists Cédric Dupont and Markus Pohl constantly assault the listener with aggressive riffs and melodic underpinnings for Franck's voice.

Surprisingly, the pair provides very few guitar solos, with the first one appearing in the fourth song, “Death Has Come.” Considering how much weight guitars carry in metal, the absence of solos left me scratching my head in confusion, especially considering how skilled the later solos are.

Bassist Dennis Wohlbold and drummer Steffen Theurer each do their part as well, although their performances are far from groundbreaking. Wohlbold makes most of his contribution in the form of songwriting (along with Franck and Pohl), which on the whole is quite good, although few slipups are evident.

For example, the meaning of the song “Ancient Prophecies” completely eludes me. The strangest moment for me occurs when Franck sings: “In circles/ We walk, in circles we talk/ Will you ever fall from grace?” On the other hand, when one considers English is most of the band's second language, some odd lyrics can be forgiven.

When it comes right down to it, “Become Death” is an extremely entertaining album. At once appeasing hardcore metal fans and the uninitiated, the album is a melodic, metallic, and strangely compelling mix that thoroughly entertains.

While finding a copy of the CD might be hard (I suggest Amazon.com, iTunes, or ordering it through Metal Blade's Web site), I strongly suggest taking the time to find one. It's well worth the effort.