Interview With Brandon Mitchell (Swallowed By Apathy) 2

Just a few months ago Brandon Mitchell had moved away and left Swallowed By Apathy behind. The other member (Kevin) credited for writing on Dysgenesis picked up the pieces after Brandon left and was going to continue the project. Just days ago things took a sudden turn when Brandon decided to take the band name back and sever his involvement with Kevin. In this interview we get Brandon's side of the story and get some new info on what is to come in the near future from Swallowed By Apathy.

Foul Feast: There seems to be a disagreement in terms of how much input Kevin had in the writing process of Dysgenesis. Give us your side of the story.

Mitchell: It's simple. I wrote the record while living in Newark, 3 hours away from where Kevin lives. I sent him the tunes to work on his bass parts until I could get up there to track in his studio. Other than that he wrote the lyrics to "Journeyman of the Lucid" and "Cynical Transparency". As far as vocal melodies for those two go, I came up with them myself. While he did program the drums on "Dysgenesis", I was there to translate what drum parts I thought would fit because I play drums myself and wanted to make sure it wasn't impossible to achieve for live shows.

FF: What caused the sudden change of heart? Why not take the band name with you when you first split ways with Kevin?

Mitchell: Well, when I told Kevin I needed to home with my family he flipped out. I was under the impression we would put Swallowed By Apathy to rest for awhile. Out of respect for him I didn't want to just kick him out and take shit elsewhere, I figured it was only fair. Later on he decides to get this childish attitude and say "I'm doing it without you." His tone of voice was basically like "fuck you". I mean this was minutes before I went home. I don't know if being rude to me made him feel manly or what but I'm not one to be talked down to. His father basically made me leave immediately and although I payed for half of the discs I wasn't allowed to take my cut. I financed the mixing entirely out of my pocket as well as other things we needed for the band. I had a job while living up there and Kevin made to effort to follow up on his applications. Working long days were stressful but I still came home energized and ready to rehearse. Kevin always had an excuse as to why he didn't want to practice. It seemed as if rehearsing the same song over and over got old to him. I have a lot of live experience so I wanted to get everything as tight as possible. Kevin had never been in a band in his life before Swallowed By Apathy and live shows didn't seem to be a priority. To me giving the audience my best is everything. Swallowed By Apathy isn't meant to be a studio project. I formed it with the goal of playing live and that is what I intend to do. If you must know about my change of heart, it was losing my Grandmother to cancer on Thanksgiving. It's changed the way that I view everything now and the only reason I didn't take Swallowed By Apathy back sooner is out of respect for Rob and Conor (who isn't with the band anymore). I worked too hard to have someone take it away and get the glory for my blood, sweat, and tears.

FF: Will you be using any of the material that was written when Kevin was still a part of the band on the upcoming release?

Mitchell: After the record was finished I immediately began to write because I am always full of ideas but Kevin didn't want to work with me. What I had worked on before I left Cleveland was constructed purely by me. I got some good material out of that time frame but the stuff I have been working on since I came back home is more evolved.

FF: How do you feel about Kevin's new project Aethereal Inception? Do you wish him the best in his future endeavors?

Mitchell: I was unaware until you had mentioned it. He still has yet to restore my admin rights on the original Facebook page so fuck him. I don't wish him any luck but at the same time I don't wish him harm. I more or less just don't give a shit one way or another. I'm thinking about my band at the moment.

FF: Are you and Kevin still on good terms after all of this?

Mitchell: Nope.

FF: Has a new line-up been considered yet?

Mitchell: A new line-up is already in order. Josh Chilcote is our new guitarist and we back as far as Junior High School. He was actually the first drummer of Swallowed By Apathy and did session work on our 2010 demo. Him and Steven (our new drummer) also play in Vultaria which is a death/thrash band that I was with for almost 2 years. I released 2 EP's with them and I'm looking to have Vultaria play with Swallowed By Apathy any chance that I get because they are insane live. Josh is normally a front-man so for this it's kinda new to see him focusing purely on guitar. He also played bass for the band Only Flesh who are currently label-mates with Goatwhore on Rotten Records. The guy has a wicked stage presence, a professional attitude, and live experience out the ass. Not to mention he knows how to have a good time. Steven is without a doubt the most talented drummer I have ever worked with and I'm willing to bet ever will. He's a blast beat machine and soaks up new techniques like a sponge. He's a really diverse musician and I'm looking to bring his black metal influence into the band a bit. I guess the real "new" guy is Ryan Boggs. He is handling bass duties and is levels ahead of anything Kevin could do with the genre. I hate watching Ryan play because he actually shits on most guitarists I've played with and he uses his fingers. lol

FF: You've been in bands previously in that area, any chance we may see some of the people you have worked with before in Swallowed By Apathy?

Mitchell: haha! This question has already been answered but yes. You will be seeing them! As a matter of fact we are getting ready to do a photo shoot so you can actually see them.

FF: How is the new stuff going to differ from what we heard on Dysgenesis?

Mitchell: More clean vocals! I'm not going to sugar coat it. lol Most bands say, "Oh it's going to be the heaviest thing we've ever done." or something really cliche. It's going to be the most melodic thing we've done yet. It's going to be musically much heavier and very dark at times. But I have a lot of ability as a singer that needs to be displayed on this record. It's not going to be a massive departure from what we've already done. It's just going to be a logical step forward and I'm making it a bit more progressive. The catchy choruses will be there as always. The record is going to be called, "The Oracle of Disarray" and some song titles are, "Death Will Pave Our Way", "Trinity", "Unworldly Entity", "Mark My Words" and "The Imminent Question". I just gave away a good amount of info on that but I can tell you there will be no instrumentals, covers, or filler tracks. It's all going to be full songs and I'm shooting to have about 13 tracks recorded between now and late 2012. Expect an early 2013 release! We're hitting the studio in January to record a new single so keep your eye and ears out for that! Also we will be playing live a lot in 2011! We'll have some hometown shows as well as shows in surrounding states so who knows, maybe we'll be in your area.

FF: Do you plan on keeping Chris Clancy involved in the project at all in the future?

Mitchell: This time around we are recording in our hometown with a guy by the name of Joe Wahl at his home studio. He has the tools to mix and master our record just fine as well as a degree in music recording. We'll be in good hands! haha I love what Chris did with the first record but I wanna try something different this time around.

FF: Any final thoughts?

Mitchell: http://www.facebook.com/swallowedbyapathy is our new Facebook page!!! "Unlike" the old one and "like" the current link because that's where all the current and up to date info is. Oh and keep supporting FoulFeast because he's got tasty reviews and cool info on unsigned metal acts. Hopefully this covers everything!

Without Waves- Scab Platter

Without Waves is a four piece metal band from Chicago. With an album title like Scab Platter it wouldn't be a stretch for someone to assume this is some sort of pornogrind/goregrind band, if that is what you are in search of you will be majorly disappointed. The members have all played music with one another for years and started the project in hopes to make natural experimental music. They blend various styles together in order to create a unique sound all of their own and manage to keep it cohesive for the most part. This being a feat in itself they have already fought half of the battle. Clocking in at a brief twenty five minutes, Without Waves has your attention for just long enough to leave a lasting impression.

The fretwork on the album is most definitely the highlight. It is clear when listening that these guys have been playing for a long time and are well rounded in their influence. The playing ranges from fairly simple, almost radio friendly tracks ("The Way To Crash & Burn" and "Dhyana") to frantic tracks filled with a certain amount of rage that rivals Dillinger Escape Plan. Even during the albums most technical moments each note is plucked with the utmost precision. The band also shows off their already matured songwriting skills, maintaining a sense of direction without losing their overall intensity.

Vocal style vary quite a bit throughout. The track "Dhyana" that consists entirely of clean vocals and they are surprisingly well executed. Unlike many metal bands that just throw in cleans for the sake of variation Cwan actually has a decent voice. Harsh vocals are used pretty often and he mainly sticks to mid-ranged screams/growls. Even though the harsh vocals don't branch out much there is still a fair amount of vocal diversity on the album, enough to keep your interest to say the least.

The instrumental track "Sativa Sunrise" is hands-down one of the best instrumentals of 2011. Easily matching the instrumental beauty that was featured on Scale the Summit's "Carving Desert Canyons". These guys finally show of their niche for writing excellent music and truly let the music speak for itself. The main gripe to be had about Scab Platter lies in its length. The album is less than thirty minutes long. Essentially Scab Platter only consists of five actual songs, an intro, and two interludes. With the style being played here that goes by at what appears to be the blink of an eye. There is certainly room for more material here, they could double the length of this release and they still wouldn't be overstaying their welcome. There is also a little bit of an issue with the overall flow of the album. While the tracks themselves are cohesive, some tracks don't lead into others so well.

Overall Scab Platter is an extremely good debut. These guys definitely have something to work with here. There is still some room for improvement, but given the fact that this is the bands first release they have plenty of time to workout the kinks. Hopefully we will see another release from Without Waves soon expanding on the already solid sound they have established here. Fans of metal in general with a bit of an experimental sound should give this a listen.

Interview with Brandon Mitchell (ex-Swallowed By Apathy)

Brandon Mitchell just recently made the decision to part ways will Swallowed By Apathy shortly after the release of their debut full-length. In this interview we discuss why he left the band and where he is going from here.

Foul Feast: First off I'll address what is probably on everyones mind, what made you decide to leave Swallowed By Apathy?

Brandon Mitchell: I left Swallowed by Apathy simply because I was living 3 hours away from my closest friends and family. As much as I enjoyed the whole experience the distance had taken it's toll on me. I had not anticipated such an amazing following or response to the album and I will cherish every second that I spent in the band. It was my baby, I had the band formed before Kevin joined and I watched a small idea grow into a reality. After Kevin joined a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and we worked as a team. I am happy that they will continue to carry on the legacy but I know that because of the fact I wrote 95% of the guitar parts and my vocal melodies it will have a different vibe. I can tell you from working with Kevin for a year and my time spent with Conor Sullivan that it will still be very solid and progressive musically. Conor fucking rips dude. lol After all I would expect nothing short of greatness from those two. Rob is an insane drummer and I think with him in the fold they will explore new territories. I have no regrets simply because we accomplished so much in little time. I need a little break from music but I will definitely be releasing stuff in the future. I want to make it but as of right now I need to be with family and friends.

FF: Are you happy with how Dysgenesis came out?

Brandon Mitchell: Oh absolutely, as an artist I feel that there are always ways to grow and improve so sure I may have done things differently but in the end we put it out and crafted it to be the best it could at that time. I'm thrilled by the support I have been shown and hope that people continue to support the band.

FF: Do you have any ideas of what you may do musically in the future?

Brandon Mitchell: Oh definitely, I got plans for the future. I can tell you I have always wanted to front a power metal band and fully intend on displaying my ability and range as a singer. I've been approached the past few days about getting involved with some new artists but at the moment I am taking a breather.

FF: Is there any chance of you and Kevin doing anymore music together?

Brandon Mitchell: Kevin and I are still on good terms so I would never say never but I think it's best we go our own ways and branch out with different people. I have learned a lot from him and I sure as hell influenced him so we will take what we learned and apply it to the future.

FF: What is going to happen to the material that was being written for Swallowed By Apathy that hasn't been released yet?

Brandon Mitchell: We'll considering I wrote everything on guitar and we haven't fully pieced anything together, I plan on working most of it into future projects as it is slightly more evolved and I am proud of it. It's good shit and when it gets released you will enjoy it. I am sure of that.

FF: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Brandon Mitchell: Just a big thanks to everyone who has supported me through everything and when I get back on my feet with material you will be the first to know.

Abysmalia- Amid Adversities

Finnish progressive thrash outfit Abysmalia is back and still striving to put out some very unique metal music. Having formed back in 2007 these guys already have four full-lengths and an EP under their belt. Since 2008 they have released an album every year and somehow between the release of their amazing most recent full-length Replenish Entirety, they manage to put out something just as consistent.

The album opens with "Recollections of a Reality". A brief intro that features female vocals and does a great job at setting the tone for the record and introducing the first song "These Words are My Woes". Starting off with an absolute bang "These Words are My Woes" features some of the fastest and most aggressive moments on the album let alone Abysmalia's discography. Yet somehow before all is said and done they manage to do a complete 180 and end the track with a beautiful, uplifting solo and soaring clean vocals. Abysmalia has always been amazing at keeping the listener on their toes and when listening to the first few songs here they make it evident that they haven't quite lost their touch just yet.

Amid Adversities seems to have a stronger thrash influence than the previous album. The difference is very slight to say the least and only pops up on rare occasions, but there is enough for past fans to begin to take notice. That being said they still maintain their progressive elements and don't ever stick to one particular style for too long. Another interesting thing about the release is the bass. Abysmalia definitely has always had the bass at an audible level to say the least. On this album it sort of takes the spotlight at times. A solid example of this would be on "From a Sanguine Heart" in which the bass actually overpowers the guitar and really drives the song almost single-handedly.

The sheer amount of diversity held within these six tracks is unbelievable. The fact that none of it sounds out of place in the slightest is even more amazing. At times there is an all-out thrash assault and the next thing you know you are listening to something that has subtle pop influence. "The Mothers of Sons" gathers all of this up and bundles it up into one nice, easy to digest, eight minute track. Flipping back and forth between calming melodies and pummeling grooves, it is the best representation of what Abysmalia is all about.

Overall Abysmalia proves their consistency once again with Amid Adversities. This is their most professional sounding release by far. The influences that you could hear on Replenish Entirety are almost entirely gone and it is clear that Abysmalia have molded a sound that they can truly call their own. While the music featured here may be too spontaneous for some it seems like this is about as easy to digest as Abysmalia is going to get. Those looking to get into the band should definitely start here. Prog metal fans will not be disappointed.

Swallowed By Apathy- Dysgenesis

Swallowed By Apathy is a progressive death metal band from the US. Some of you may remember our review for their previous EP not too long ago. They followed up that EP rather quickly and have improved vastly since. This debut full-length consists of eight new tracks and a cover. Dysgenesis clocks in at just over forty minutes and throughout that time you will be taken on a tour of the many sounds that Swallowed By Apathy bring forth on this release.

The guitar playing here is pretty complex for the most part. Every riff sticks in your head and a wide range of techniques are used. Though many sections here are fairly intricate none of the songs are overly technical. It is clear when listening that all the members are well rounded with their instruments and have some solid experience under their belts. The bass also has some great moments. The most notable is on the track "Cynical Transparency" which starts off with some crazy bass playing and also has a very overpowering, thick sound when compared to the rest of the tracks on the album.

One thing that has improved in a major way since the first EP is the clean vocals. The delivery has gotten much more powerful. Most likely the power that  was lacking on the first EP may have been due to the production values, but either way it really seems like he is holding back less here. As usual Brandon Mitchell brings a wide variety of vocal styles to the table and delivers them all well. The cleans play a huge role in the albums overall sound so the improvement in that department is more than welcome. For the most part choruses consist of fairly catchy soaring clean vocals. There is also an amazing guest spot on "Sleep Paralysis" with Chris Clancy (ex- Mutiny Within vocalist), who also mixed the album. The production on this album is leaps and bounds ahead of their debut. This really helps get the intensity across overall and makes for a much more pleasant listen all around.

The variety of tracks featured on Dysgenesis is huge. Each song has it's own special vibe and none of them blend together. This makes for an extremely interesting listen and shoots the replay value through the roof. With that being said, one thing is always consistent, the songwriting is top notch all the way through. Whether it be an epic track like "Journey of the Lucid" or a heavy hitter like "Idiosyncrasy" it is clear that a vast amount of time was put into crafting every single song to be the best that it can be. Also included on the album is a cover of "Crystal Mountain" by Death. I mentioned in my previous review for the bands EP that a few aspects of their sound (especially some of Mitchell's vocals) reminded me of Death. Their version does the original justice and is hands down the best Death cover I have ever heard. In terms of covers a better choice could not have been made, it fits perfectly with the rest of the album and doesn't disrupt the flow like many covers do.

Overall considering it is the bands first full-length, Dysgenesis is an incredibly mature effort. I can only see their sound getting better and expanding from here. Fans of the EP will definitely be impressed with this album, and newcomers will most certainly be coming back for more in the future. Anyone looking for progressive death metal should give this release a listen immediately. Get.

Interview With Swallowed By Apathy

Brandon Mitchell and Kevin Czarnecki of Swallowed By Apathy took the time out to discuss a few things involving the band and where it is headed. 

Foul Feast- Tell us a little about how Swallowed By Apathy came about.

Brandon- Basically after leaving my other band Vultaria, I wanted to do something different that was more of my style, which is progressive metal. So me and my old drummer Blaine began writing material with a good friend of mine named Brandon Ball. We met Kevin at a Death Angel show and he came in to track bass and eventually became a prominent member. Blaine and Brandon exited the band and Kevin and I were just kinda left to carry it on. Since then, we have been working on better material and have been self-sufficient with the recording process.

Kevin- As Brandon had mentioned, I met him and the original lineup of SBA at a Death Angel show. We had just kinda hung out and we really hit it off. Basically I was brought in and just tracked my bass. At the time, the original songs we had done were done at a studio in Newark, OH by a friend of Brandon's, but now I record everything the band does. Not only am I the bass player, but I produce and program everything for the most part. I had never really been in a band before, a serious one at least, so I'm extremely happy with the way SBA has progressed throughout this short time we've been around. We're doing a lot more than most bands do in their first year of formation.

FF- If I'm remembering correctly you recorded the EP as a two piece. Are there any plans of getting together a full line-up?

Brandon- We are still working on that. It's really rough with the nature of the music, because a band is like a marriage and with having such a particular sound we want to make sure that who we bring in clicks with us musically.

Kevin- Definitely. It's necessary for this band to move forward. We want to start playing shows and getting out there more, but like Brandon mentioned it's really hard to find someone who clicks with you. I was fortunate enough to meet Brandon, who actually lives 3 hours away from me, at that show and we click perfectly musically. Sure, there are disagreements, but it's simply just like a family and whoever we bring in needs to click with us not only musically but there needs to be a good chemistry socially. Infact, we just put Egor Sadovnic into the band and he'll be playing guitar along side of Brandon.

FF- How is the new album coming together thus far?

Brandon- The new album is going fantastic. We've put a lot of time into the writing process and we're being extremely picky in making sure that every instrument is played as cleanly and clearly as possible. We learned a lot from our last EP and this is a defining moment for us. I think that people will really see that when it's released. From the artwork to the lyrics it's very deep and well thought out.

Kevin- Let's be honest: as good as it's going, it's also a huge bitch. I'll be totally honest with you, when we recorded the EP I knew what I was doing but at the same time I knew nothing. When it came to mixing, I went through such a learning process and so many failed mixes before I got something I was satisfied with. I'm not saying I'm the next Andy Sneap, but damn if I didn't do a decent job for what I had and the things I knew. Going into this album, I know all the mistakes I made when we originally recorded the EP and I'm equipped to fix them now. I'm having a lot of fun and releasing this will be my biggest accomplishment thus far.

FF- For those not aware, what does the title "Dysgenesis" mean?

Brandon-"Dysgenesis" to me represents the flaw in society, or mankind as a whole. Genesis is obviously an origin or start of something and the title represents how man is natural prone to error. With the state of our world and the nature of the material it is very fitting. Originally the album was going to be a concept record inspired by my mother's experiences with mental illness . As we got further into the writing we realized that we had much more to say and I think the concept idea would have taken away from the versatility of the material. With this title it represents the theme but it doesn't limit our topics.

Kevin-Well the textbook definition is basically to be born with a malformed organ, and based off of our previous album title and how it dealt with mental illness, I wanted to not stray too far from that subject so when I thought "Dysgenesis", I automatically thought malformation of the brain. I've always personally liked lyrics and themes dealing with society and the flaws of mankind, so this really excites me. The artwork really reflects this, because when I designed it I wanted to make it seem like someone was trying to seek salvation from the pains of his/her own human mind, and the use of the hands of an infant really helps portray the idea that finding ourselves and dealing with the corruptions and flaws of life are a lifelong struggle and that no matter how stubborn people may be, we all need a little help and that's where the second hand reaching out for the one emerging from the ground came into play. The cool thing about it all is that it leaves room for the listener to determine what they personally think it means and that's always something I look for in music.

FF- How did you end up getting in touch with Chris Clancy (of Mutiny Within) for mixing and mastering the new album?

Brandon- Ironically Mutiny Within had played at the Death Angel show where Kevin and I had met. lol I talked with Chris periodically throughout the night and I was shocked by how passionate he was about the music and he had a very humble attitude. Meeting him was a huge honor and so for him to be as kind and outgoing as he was made a huge impact. I kept in touch with him through Facebook and as we began planning the album we realized that mixing is expensive. Chris not only offered us a great deal but he actually expressed excitement about working on it. It's definitely necessary to have someone who understands your music and can give you the best sound possible. He actually wants this to be of great quality and he puts a lot of effort into what he does.

Kevin- I mixed the EP to the best of my abilities, but I know I'm NO where near ready to mix and master an entire full length album so I decided to shoot Chris a message on Facebook. I knew he mixed for bands but the deal he offered us was one we couldn't shoot down so we decided to work with him. We've sent him stuff already and what he's sent back sounds so phenomenal and I think everyone will be really surprised.

FF- How do you feel your music has progressed since the recording of the EP?

Brandon- I would say we put more thought into writing good songs overall. Sometimes when writing progressive music it can be easy to lose sight of the catchiness and hooks. We want to not only write challenging music but also music that will click with people and stick in their heads. We have been really good about not adding unnecessary parts and so forth. I also think the songs vary from one another a great deal so that the listener can differentiate every song from one another. I hate when albums start strong and then material just kind of runs together.

Kevin- Brandon wrote all the guitar parts and what not, and judging by what he's written I'd say the writing has matured so much since the EP. The transitions are fantastic and everything flows great. Seeing it all come together with drums and what have you not is something that never gets old to me. There's much more of an excitement with the album, even more so than with the EP. Each song is definitely unique to one another. The cool thing about it is you can tell it's us by each and every song but we are able to put a spin on everything. You'll hear some death metal, some jazz, some melo death, some power metal, some folk metal, it's all there and that's really what I love.

FF- Obviously you both draw influences from a wide variety of artists, but is there anyone that sticks out the most in terms of inspiration?

Brandon- Into Eternity is easily my favorite band. We actually got our band name out of line in their song "Paralyzed". That band opened so many doors for me and I've taken a lot from Tim's guitar work. There isn't anyone out there who has even a fraction of the skill those guys have. Musically, they are not only technical but they are catchy and write carefully. Death, Nevermore, Martyr, Quo Vadis, Trivium, and Mutiny Within are also some of my favorites. There's also a band out there called Chaos Divine from Australia. They are excellent and unfortunately not as big as they should be. I took a great deal of influence from them while writing 'Dysgenesis'.

Kevin- As Brandon said, I'd say Into Eternity is definitely one of the big influences. For me, I take a great deal of influence from Death, Control Denied, Martyr, Nevermore, Divinity, Obscura, basically all the same stuff as Brandon. My bass work has been compared to that of Steve DiGiorgio, one of my biggest idols, and I'm aiming to really push it to the next level on the album.

FF- Have you guys played any gigs yet?

Brandon- Not yet unfortunately. When we had the originally line-up we planned on gigging a lot but until we find a solid drummer it isn't possible. That's why we are putting a lot of time into writing great material so that we can assemble a live line-up and put on a great show every gig. I've had a lot of experience in past bands and I know the potential of what SBA could do. I just want to make sure we deliver the most professional live show we can.

Kevin- No gigs but I'm really excited to bring SBA into the live environment. With Egor in the band now, I think we'll be able to make it happen a lot quicker than anticipated.

FF- How is the metal scene in Cleveland?

Brandon- I'm just now moving here so I don't know too much lol. I really like The Dagger Rebellion. They are probably my favorite unsigned progressive band and they make Ohio proud. I also like Stoneking from up North. They play progressive death metal, they have a unique sound as well.

Kevin- The Cleveland music scene is great. I mean, sure, it has its shit like every other scene, but I'm pretty happy with it. You have The Dagger Rebellion, Salt the Wound, Ruled by Reason, all these great bands. Not to mention Chimaira and Mushroomhead. Definitely a lot of potential and talent.

FF- Any final thoughts?

Brandon- Quadtracking guitars sucks. It's going to be the death of me. lol Other than that, support the local bands because it's rough trying to be heard. Also if you want something don't let anything stop you. I hope everyone out there picks up "Dysgenesis" when it is finished and continues to spread the word.

Kevin- It's been a really shitty, tedious process and it seems like we haven't even broke the tip of the iceberg yet, but when this album comes out, you'll all be extremely surprised and satisfied at the results. Keep supporting us and spreading the word!

Swallowed By Apathy- EP

Swallowed By Apathy is a two piece progressive metal band from Ohio. The band formed in 2010 and have since released this EP. It is clear when listening that the band draws influence from many different sections of the metal genre and that they have worked hard at creating a sound that doesn't grow dull after a few listens. They fall in the right place when it comes to progressive music, it is interesting enough to keep the listener guessing but it never comes across as too self indulgent. Many bands can't successfully find that middle ground and with that being said it makes for a truly excellent release.

The guitar playing on this release is solid. The riffs fit together in a very coherent manner and for such young musicians they show great potential in terms of writing ability. Many moments featured here are graced with some epic shredding and it never seems out of place in the slightest. The bulk of the riffs are extremely infectious and linger through your head awhile after listening. The cleanly played sections are executed with great precision, these sections of the album never sound tacked on in an attempt to "sound progressive". The moments fit perfectly with what Swallowed By Apathy is setting out to do. The bass also plays a decent sized role in the overall sound. It adds a great deal of depth to the bands already big sound.

The vocals are the EP consist of a wide variety of styles. One major flaw in many extreme bands is the lack of vocal diversity, luckily Swallowed By Apathy isn't afraid to go out of the typical boundaries and switch off styles quite often. The only minor gripe I have about the vocal performance involves the cleans. They aren't bad by any means, they are actually quite good, but they are lacking some power. A more powerful delivery would give the clean moments that extra push into greatness. Another thing that might catch the attention of the listener is the opening vocals on the track "Neurophobia" which have a stunning resemblance of the death metal legend Chuck Schuldiner.

Overall Swallowed By Apathy have started off on solid ground. This is a very good release and leaves just enough impact to stick with the listener afterwards. Apparently the band is already recording a full-length so be sure to lookout for that in the near future. Fans of mid-era Death may find this to be right up their alley. Anyone in to metal in general that can handle a little heaviness should give this EP a shot.

Abysmalia- Replenish Entirety

Abysmalia is a three piece band from Finland. The band plays a unique style of proggy thrash influenced metal. The way they approach this style is sure to turn the heads of many metalheads. It would be very difficult to find too many other bands to compare to Abysmalia. While the music isn't so zany that it is hard to enjoy it is most certainly not the most conventional of it's kind either.

The vocals on the album are very well executed. There is a healthy blend of both clean and harsh vocals. The harsh vocals on the album sound very uncontrolled and edgy. The cleans featured are a highlight and without a doubt spice up the overall sound of the record quite a bit. The fretwork on Replenish Entirety is quite captivating. The playing consists of, not only solid riffs, but is also fairly intricate at times. The timing used during many sections of the album are odd and keep things fresh. While many bands that flirt with technicality sacrifice the ability to write a song in order to showboat their talents, that is not the case here. There is a decent amount of great guitar playing displayed here but it is all written in a manner that is very easy to digest and to put it simply fairly awe-inspiring.

The bass on this album doesn't fade into the background like in most cases. Much of the album actually relies on the bass to hold the groove and beef up the sound. Not only does the bassist get a little time in the spotlight, he can also be credited with doing a major part in holding this beast of an album together. When listening to Abysmalia's wonderful composition of sounds a few bands may come to mind. The first that may come up throughout is Augury, while the band isn't strikingly similar many moments do appear to be partly inspired by the prog gods.

When listening to Replenish Entirety it is easy to tell that Abysmalia isn't too worried about what listeners think of them. They never stay in anything that could be considered a "comfort zone" for very long. The band's fearless approach definitely makes this release a breath of fresh air. Just when you think you know where they are going next they throw a curveball and do something that nobody could have predicted. Going about music this way takes plenty of guts and when listening to this it is clear that Abysmalia have no lack in that department. The softer side that Abysmalia shows on and off throughout the album is stunning. While it is extremely relaxing and emotional it manages to hold an intense grip on your attention. It is hard to believe that such chaotic moments can be displayed so cohesively when juxtaposed with the beautiful sound that makes up their other half.

Overall Abysmalia have made an eerily engrossing album. It is hard to pinpoint an exact section of metal fans that will enjoy this release. Many different subgenres are poured into this melting pot of metal. Whether the band is moving at the speed of light or at a crawling pace they always play to the fullest and aim to entertain. Fans of anything progressive should get some kind of enjoyment out of this. Due to the unique sound the band puts on display, Replenish Entirety has amazing replay value. Check this one out!

Cross Pain- EP

Cross Pain is a two piece epic thrash band from the United States. The members are sixteen years old but should not be written off for their age. This is the band's first release which consist of just under twenty minutes of thrashy instrumentals. With a real drummer thrown into the mix this could be something to look out for.

We'll begin with the negative things about this EP. The drum programming gets to be a bit grating on the listener. This wouldn't be so bad if the mixing didn't have the drums so loud in the mix. The guitar playing on the album is great but on more occasions than one it is overpowered by the drum machine. The machine isn't programmed horribly but when it is this high in volume it does get a bit tedious.

As mentioned previously the fretwork is Cross Pain's main reason to terrorize your earholes. They are armed with catchy grooves and lots of soloing. Some of the riffs tend to be a bit underwhelming due to the loud drum programming but the song structures are good enough to get the general idea across. The epic intro for "Rain Ghost" is one of the highlights of this EP as well as the breakneck riffing displayed on "Revival (The Beginning). It is clear when listening that these guys have chops and have the writing ability to show them off.

Overall throughout the playtime of this EP Cross Pain shows some potential and with a little tweaking in the mixing department this could be an excellent release. Another thing that could have helped the end product is a vocalist. In the end this EP isn't anything amazing but it definitely isn't something to ignore. The things that are done right on this release are done quite well. This isn't something I can recommend to everyone but if you are a fan of thrash or instrumental music or just things with a progressive edge in general I'd say give it a shot, don't expect to be blown away but there is some quality to be found here.

Interview with Rhiis of Ana Kefr!

Frontman of Ana Kefr Rhiis D. Lopez took the time out to tell us a little about the meaning of The Burial Tree, the history of the band, and the "two time" rule.

Foul Feast: Can you tell us a little about how Ana Kefr formed?

(I'm going to answer this question in second person perspective narrative just for kicks.)

Rhiis: So you're eking out a quaint little existence in Cairo; you tried making a living as an English teacher, even got certified, did some of that shoddy freelance writing for a stint. You never really found "it," whatever "it" was supposed to be. A friend of a friend of a friend introduces you to the right guy, a couple months later you're a casting director for movies, life smells real good. Fava bean breakfast, felafel lunch and a pasta dinner. Tea, coffee, hookah, bad breath for less than a dollar. Your mother's on the phone complaining about health problems, next thing you know you're back in California for what you are calling a "visit." The visit introduces you to Kyle, he's already got a music thing going but you try out on vocals anyway, you know, just for the hell of it. Bang-boom-pow, you're writing music now, line-up changes, living arrangements, sleep on a couch for a year. Two years piss by and your couple-month visit becomes a joke. Clarinets and saxophones, album number two on the way...life has a funny way of working out, you think.

FF: What can fans expect from the new album?

Rhiis: Anyone hoping we'd go softer is going to be disappointed. It's a lot harder than "Volume 1," with less structure and wilder musicality. Some of these songs have 20-23 different riffs in them, we're not talking about radio rock here. At the same time, it has the Kefr feel to it - it's intense but has the melody and emotion behind it. There is still a variety in the sound, but the hard got harder and the soft got more epic and complex. They should expect something different, one thing we aim for is to never repeat an idea, and this album is a big step forward from our first album. Every album should be the next step forward.

FF: Are there any plans of a tour in support of the upcoming album?

Rhiis: Yes. Since we are an independent band, it isn't financially easy to just throw together a massive tour. We do plan on putting together a few different things, something focusing on the westcoast and something else eastward bound, as well as our normal circuit throughout southern California. We're going to get out there and hit the road, but it will probably be spaced out a bit to make it financially practical.

FF: When it comes to tours you take part in are you normally the odd man out?

Rhiis: We've never actually been a part of a tour! We've played a fair amount in southern California and once in Las Vegas, but this album will have us getting out there finally. It needs to be done, whatever the cost. As far as shows we've played, we are always the odd man out, no matter what the line-up. I think we all see this as a good thing, though. Love or hate us, you'll probably remember us when the show is over.

FF: What inspired the album title The Burial Tree?

Rhiis: Mythology and religion. As the concepts for the album came together, I began polishing some ideas and weeding out others, coming closer to finding what the album needed to be centered around. I don't want to get too into it because a) it will take forever, b) it will take all the fun out of people finding things for themselves and taking their own meaning from it all, but the album generally centers around the idea of a path to enlightenment. As the second track, Emago, says, "For if from ignorance hails bliss then with enlightenment comes the abyss and hopelessness." One idea embedded in the album is that enlightenment/the search for truth can actually be a very dark and painful thing, however necessary it may be. Truth isn't always pleasant, but it's always truth and therefore valuable.

FF: Would you say The Burial Tree is a concept album?

Rhiis: I'd say it is both a concept album and a collection of individual songs tied together by underlying themes. There is an obvious thread going through it all, but the songs aren't all talking about the same thing over and over. There are a lot of hidden connections and meaning in both the lyrics and the music notation, some of them might jump out at the listener over time, others won't be found unless you dig really deep and thoroughly into it all.

FF: Are you satisfied with how the album came out?

Rhiis: Extremely, we put a lot of time into it. We spent about 3 months recording it, spacing the recording days out by going in on weekends and Wednesdays, and this gave us the opportunity to have time to sit on the rough mixes and really analyze it. It got to a point where we were overanalyzing and driving ourselves insane, but in the end it was worth it. The production quality is strikingly clear and sounds very big, we are all pretty happy with it.

FF: The band's sound is very progressive, is this something you were shooting for or did it just come naturally as you began writing?

Rhiis: We never sat down and agreed to write progressive music, it really just happened by chance. Starting with the writing core, Kyle and I both listen to a lot of different kinds of music and don't limit ourselves at all when we write. Everyone in the band listens to a weird mix, enjoys playing different styles and has been in other bands of different genres before, so we all bring a lot of different angles to the drawing board. There aren't any rules other than keeping away from repeating an idea, and that alone has probably had a lot to do with our songs all simultaneously sounding like the same band but still sounding very different from one another.

FF: Your music challenges the listener, do you find this to be important with how dumbed down a lot of modern music is?

Rhiis: Yes, it's very important, I feel pretty appalled by what's popular these days. There are some good new bands, but so much sound-alike crap gets churned out, it makes it difficult to sift through it all and find something actually worth listening to. We never made any conscious decision to make music that is unpredictable or whatever you want to call it, it kind of just happens because we get bored playing a riff four times and then following it with a chorus. We are fond of things happening two times, though, and only rarely does something happen four times. If you listen, you'll hear a lot of twos in The Burial Tree. I guess that's another general rule, along with not repeating an idea - don't repeat a riff unless you absolutely have to. Repetition is repetitively repetitive.

FF: Ana Kefr translates to "I Am Infidel" can you explain a little behind the meaning of the name?

Rhiis: One of the first songs I wrote the lyrics to was called "Takeover," from our first album, "Volume 1." We hadn't chosen a band name yet, but the music and lyrics to this song were in place. A friend of ours, John Treadwell, pointed out a part in the song where "ana kefr" is chanted, and said that would be a great band name. We whole-heartedly agreed and the rest is history. The name being Arabic is obviously inspired by my time spent in the Middle East, I traveled Jordan while living in Egypt, as well as spending some time in Palestine/Israel, and my experiences really changed everything for me. We're obviously not hardcore Jesus-humpers, I feel that picking that name for the band totally marked the path we'd walk. I couldn't be happier that this is the path.

FF: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Rhiis: Thanks for the great questions! It's been fun.

Ana Kefr- The Burial Tree (II)

Ana Kefr is a progressive metal outfit from Riverside, California. With The Burial Tree the band has crafted what can only be described as unpredictable. The band is always one step ahead of the listener and thinking outside the box. They blend several subgenres together and manage to create a delicious concoction of bludgeoning, yet beautiful and unique metal. In the next hour you will have a wide variety of sounds wash over you, everything from clarinet sections, mind numbing melodies, and subtle electronics. All instruments are used to their full ability and nothing is left in silence within The Burial Tree.

The vocal styles on The Burial Tree vary, they range from majestic female vocals to gutturals and everything in between. There are blastbeats and pinch harmonics and many other elements that may be found in a typically metal album but in many ways Ana Kefr is truly bringing something new to the table. Six tracks on the album run well over five minutes. Each of these songs seems to take the listener on a journey, and like all journeys there is a climax or "payoff" so to speak. All of the unusual elements blended into the music come and go in a seamless manner. The album clocks in at just over an hour, for many bands this playtime would be far too long to hold the listeners attention, fortunately for Ana Kefr this is not the case. They hold your attention up until the final notes of the epic closer "The Collector", and if they truly wanted to continue they would have you in the palm of their hand for another hour.

Ana Kefr is sure to have the unseasoned listeners scratching their heads in shear disbelief, but upon multiple listens it is obvious that the band has done something great with this release. The Burial Tree manages to capture some amazing songwriting in the midst of all the chaos that is spread like wildfire throughout the album. "Parasites" is nothing short of a classic as well as many other songs featured on The Burial Tree, and while this tracks do work well on their own the album should be listened to as a whole. The Burial Tree plays more like a Dario Argento film than it does an album, it features a beautiful sound but maintains the menacing atmosphere and leaves you in suspense and confusion throughout.

Overall this album is very unique and should be heard by all metal fans at least once. Ana Kefr push the boundaries of metal and in doing so manage to create one hell of an epic and heavy album filled with twists and turns that will prove to  challenge even the most seasoned listeners. The band creates an atmosphere that makes many emotions run through those who dare to listen. At times you may be wondering where Ana Kefr is going to take you next but only time will tell. The Burial Tree is nothing short of essential.