Review: ARMED FOR APOCALYPSE – “Defeat”

Armed for Apocalypse - Defeat
released September 15, 2009 on Ironclad

Allow me to begin by saying that these guys are going to really go somewhere. Any metalhead will agree that metalcore is currently the “big thing” as far as metal in pop culture goes. Eventually, however, it’s going to wear out its welcome, just as hair metal bands of the ’80s did. Now, deathcore is already beginning to break its way into the public eye. Armed for Apocalypse is now starting something that may not be new, but is much more accessible, really emphasizing the -core in sludgecore.

Sludge naturally has roots in hardcore, being primarily a marriage of the aforementioned genre and doom metal, but a few choice bands have historically vamped up the influence, notably Soilent Green and Eyehategod, however, it was a different kind of hardcore influence. Now, we have something new, and if it takes off, which I believe it will, we are going to need a new tag.

Defeat fuses many different sounds, primarily deathcore and sludge. However, each track almost feels like a reference to another band, sometimes even multiple bands. I hear influence from Neurosis (1),Melvins (2), Meshuggah, Mastodon (both on 3), Slayer (4), Clutch (*5*),Sleep (6), Coalesce (7), YOB, and Electric Wizard (both 8). Track 9 is also a cover of Down’s “Temptation’s Wings.” One might think that with this mishmash of different influences, it would sound broken up and uninspired. Strangely enough, this is not the case. The first half is certainly the sludgier of the two, whereas the second half explores more of their blues roots, which is, of course, at the base of every rock or metal band.

You may be wondering where the deathcore comes in. Well, this is mainly in the vocals and riffs. They do not follow traditional sludge riffing in strange scales, but play primarily in phrygian mode. The vocals are a collage of squeals, growls, and screams, something which is much more likely to be found on an All Shall Perish album than something by Kylesa.

Now, enough description. You are most likely reading this review to answer the question of whether or not this album is good or bad. Now, it is certainly interesting. They execute the combination pretty well, and I can certainly see them really getting big with time. With time. There are some aspects which they are lacking in. The basslines are almost always simply a mirror of the guitar part. I also do get the slight feeling that they need to find more of a niche, as it occasionally feels like they’re trying to do a bit too much. However, this is a strong debut album and I look forward to hearing more from them in the future.

FCC: 1
Try 2, *5*, 7, 8

01. We Fell from the Bottom
02. The Demon Who Makes Trophies of Men
03. Fists of God
04. A Failure
05. Hero Complex
06. Torch Light Search for the Dead
07. A Collapse
08. You are Alive When they Start to Eat You
09. Temptation’s Wings (Down cover)

Rating: