By: Deek

Posted: Jul 24, 2006

Wow. It seams that every year has a death metal (or death metal related) album that I drool over every time I hear it. Project Hate's "Hate Dominate Congregate Eliminate" from 2003, Akercocke's "Words That Go Unspoken Deeds That Go Undone" and Gojira's "From Mars To Sirius" in 2005, and death-doom masterpiece "Of Dust" by My Shameful from 2004 have all gotten the highest of praise from me. It appears that I have found 2006's death metal gem in Anata with their new technical onslaught "The Conductor's Departure". For their fourth album, Anata have created a monster.

Now, Anata seem to have toned the technicality down a little. Yet, this time out the musicianship and performance is tighter than ever before and the songs are more focused rather than being technical just to be technical. This whole album is probably one of the most focused albums in the last few years. And for a technical death metal band, that's saying a lot. The overall pace is slowed, too, [in a way] giving the band a depth they haven't had before. 'Downard Spiral Into Madness' opens the album the way one would expect from Anata: abstract guitar-based intro. The same general riff pattern is carried throughout the song, but with it being Anata, they keep things interesting, especially once the midpoint hits. The guitars are great compliments to each other in that vocal break. It's used a few other times in the song, too, sounding like a single guitar solo played by two guitar players, each one alternating back and forth between notes. And with one part in the right ear and the other in the left, it gives the song a great sound effect. 'Complete Demise' sounds like it would be right at home with past Anata albums, but fits well here. The next four songs provide the true heart of the album; an amazing set of songs that are just perfect. This set starts out with the precision double bass drum and an amazing riff with 'Better Grieved Than Fooled'. The intro for this song has got to be the best that Anata has. The vocal delivery is perfect. The melody and riffing is simple yet complex. The midsection goes at a slow pace grind, reminiscent of BoltThrower. It then pours right back into the riff and precision double bass from the beginning of the song with two guitar solos overlaying it. There are very few vocals in this song, too, letting the music do the talking. In an opening that reminds me of Disharmonic Orchestra, 'The Great Juggler' starts off with terrific drumming with a complex bass line. The change over with the few different guitar riffs, from a technical start-stop riff to a melodic riff to a throw-back to Florida scene riff, along with the fantastic rhythm section and one of the better vocal deliveries they've had, this song is one of the band's most comprehensive songs. 'Cold Heart Forged In Hell' has an old-school death metal feel to it, almost Florida death metal scene feel. And 'I Would Dream Of Blood' starts out slow. Very slow for Anata. But relentless. Really relentless. Another amazing song. 'Disobedience Pays' is another solid song. 'Children's Laughter' is a great little instrumental break. It flows perfectly into another great song 'Renunciation'. It’s another one with one of those riffs you just wish you wrote yourself. Closing the phenomenal album is the epic title track. The opening riff is, again, pure genius. It's another highly varied song that loops itself. A great way to end the album.

This album never lets up. 53 minutes of straight up death metal that must be heard. Death metal fans, this is a must-hear album. Anyone wanting to check out Anata should definitely check this one out. And I'll say it again: it may only be July, but I have found 2006's top death metal masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10

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