The Pitch: Leipzig, Germany progressive metalcore band The Sleeper drops a new EP of post-metal tinged tunes via ASTAT Entertainment. FFO: Textures, Tesseract, Northlane
What I Like: Hey! Another rare metalcore release that actually caught my attention! The Sleeper do an excellent job of delivering the usual djent tropes that have overrun the genre while also folding them into an overall package that feels a little different. Thanks to a healthy does of post-metal riffs and some hypnotic, droning vocals, Apparatus has a unique atmosphere and tone that seperates it from groups like Periphery. Don't get me wrong, the heavier parts of this album are excellent. The bouncy, technical hooks never failed to get me bobbing in my seat, and the harsh vocals have the same intensity as groups like After The Burial. If this was all The Sleeper had to offer, I would still be game for more; but it would just be another drop in the bucket. The band's willingness to play with other styles and influences are what step this release up into more noteable territory.
Critiques: Some of the clean vocals on this album come off as a little...dull. I wouldn't want the band to give them up altogether; as I said, they are a part of what makes their sound unique. I would just like to see them work on making them more interesting. Instead of dragging out all the notes, try varying up the cadence and tone more.
The Verdict: Apparatus is a stellar EP that delivers popcorn thrills along with more intricate, genre-bending elements. While there are a view moments that turned me off, on the whole The Sleeper have sold me on their product, and I am excited to hear more in the future.
Flight's Fav's: Synthetic Gospel, Glass Eater, Sentinel
-Review by FlightOfIcarus
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