The Pitch: Swiss deathcore band Conjonctive, around since 2007, are back with their sophomore album through Tenacity Music.
What I Like: Have I mentioned I love bands with dual vocalists? Well I do. Having different voices to play off of one another can add SO much to a record. Hearing Sonja and Randy scream at each other in their different death metal vocal inflections, and in unison for further effect, is a delightful thing. They could both stand to expand their range (we do get a few brees), but I am thankful to have both of them instead of just one. I also appreciate the little music box atmospheric additions that are sprinkled throughout the album. It's something that has been done before, but work well to add a little extra blackened flair. In fact, much of the overall tone speaks well to the song title "Let Blow The Grim Wind." That ominous bassline and piano outro on "Burn Your Eyes" would be right at home on a modern BM record. At times I feel like I'm listening to a deathcore version of Carach Angren.
What I Don't Like: It can be a bit of a chug fest. The band manages to change up the particular morse code message enough to change things up, but not much here impresses me from a musician standpoint. That having been said, this album is not completely devoid of hooks and even the occasional solo as evidenced by some of the tracks I've chosen below.
The Verdict: The swiss wind blows cold, and this recording brings a little bit of that icy magic straight through the speakers while also leading to some neck-damaging headbanging. I'm not sure how Tom G feels about this kind of music, but I think even he would admit it's pretty damn heavy. In the Mouth of the Devil releases tomorrow, 3/10.
Flight's Fav's: Down Into The Abyss, Let Blow The Grim Wind, The Cult Of The Shining Planet