AEON „“Rise to Dominate””

Music: Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Web site: www.aeon666.com
www.myspace.com/aeon666
Cool Songs: Hate Them, Spreading Their Disease, Pray to Nothing

Death metal has a long and glorious history in Sweden. The former land of the Norsemen has given birth to two distinctive styles from two areas of the country. One type comes from Stockholm and relies on brutality, catchy classic metal rhythms and melodies. The Gothenburg style barrowed elements from the Stockholm scene, but has a heavier emphasis on harmony and atmosphere. Metal Blade newcomers AEON, who resides in Östersund, looks to neither faction for inspiration.

Because AEON is native to Sweden, those unfamiliar to the band will probably have a pre-conceived notion of this group sounding Swedish, but that is not the case. AEON is a death metal band, but sound more American than Swedish. Their Metal Blade debut, “Rise to Dominate” borrows heavily from old school, American death metal. Their sound appears influenced by no particular band but by many. Vocalist, Tommy Dahlstrom’s voice recalls some of death metal’s premier growlers like
George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher during screams, Ross Dolan of IMMOLATION, and Glen Benton. Taking a page from DEICIDE, Dahlstrom often double tracks his voice to make a hellish choir of growls and higher pitched screams.

The music AEON creates harkens back to American death metal’s heyday. DEICIDE and CANNIBLE CORPSE are the first bands that come to mind. DEICIDE-like compacted, swift, lower end guitar rhythms typify songs like “Hate Them” and “Helen Ben Schachar.” Usually the CANNIBLE CORPSE comparison comes with the band gradually introducing harmonic squeals. The group breaks down the speed into pummeling, technical sections, which will also remind listeners of CC. The vocal inflection, rolling rhythms, anti-religious lyrics of “You Pray to Nothing” shows hints of IMMOLATION.

Taking into account the band’s disdain for religion, especially the Christian religions, it is no wonder they pay homage to anti-Christian groups like DEICIDE and IMMOLATION. Although “Helen Ben Schachar” and “No One Escape Us” have satanic, horror movie qualities, they are the exception. Most songs reveal the futility of organized religion without the demonic, Christian-slaughtering ideas of many bands of this ilk. AEON’s lyrics provide a rationale as to why this group rejects the tenets of Christianity.

“Spreading the Disease” explores the uselessness of Jehovah Witness. “Caressed by the Holy Man” is a story of a priest molesting the youth of his congregation, and “House of Greed” verbally accosts churches for their greed at the collection plate. These topics are nothing new in the realm of metal, but never seem to grow stale, especially as fuel for arguing against the practicality of organized religion in this age of science and technology.

AEON has a lot going for them. Although their prior release came via respected labels like Unique Leader and Osmose, neither label can give the band the support they will get with Metal Blade. Their music is technical and brutal at the same time. They acquired the services of Dan Swano (Edge of Sanity, Bloodbath) for mixing and mastering. Also, getting Alex Webster of CANNIBLE CORPSE to give lip service should make this group one of the more talked about upstarts in the death metal scene.

note: 8.5/10

Tracklist

1. Helel Ben-Shachar
2. Spreading Their Disease
3. Living Sin
4. Hate Them
5. You Pray To Nothing
6. Caressed By The Holy Man
7. House Of Greed
8. Godless
9. When The War Comes
10. There Will Be No Heaven For Me
11. Luke 4-5-7
12. No One Escapes Us
Total playing time 45:08

Line-up

Tommy Dahlström – Vocals
Daniel Dlimi – Guitar
Zeb Nilsson – Guitar
Max Carlberg – Bass
Nils Fjellström – Drums