AMARAN - A World Depraved
September 23, 2002, 22 years ago
(Listenable)
Occupying a rich and rewarding space between melodic thrash and dangerously accessible power metal, Amaran further tantalize with classy, understated female vocals. The headbanged brew instantly recalls Lullacry, or Dark Tranquillity crossed with Nocturnal Rites, Amaran filtering their passionate, hooky songs through a hardening crunchy production job somewhat akin to Sneap's Nevermore. The riffs on here are almost too good to be true for a debut offering (see the wildly anthemic 'Daffodil', with its crazy, inventive dual lead solo, 'Faith Healer', 'Rusty Horse' and the smacking guitar stomp of 'Received A Kiss'), Amaran injecting a dose of doom and Entombed into their combative sound. Only complaints: a few draggy moments late in the disc and a bit too much cut (i.e. not enough bottom end) on the bass drum.
