FLATLINE „Pave The Way”

Genre: Thrash Metal/NWOAHM
Country: USA
Band Website: www.myspace.com/flatlinemetal
Duration: 40:14
Killer Songs: “God As My Witness,” “Deleted,” “Mulch”

Kicking some life into the dead horse that’s the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, LA’s Flatline arrive with a debut album not far-removed from past efforts by Devildriver, Pantera, Lamb of God, and Hatebreed. Titled “Pave the Way,” its appeal lies in the music’s visceral strength where mighty riffs and bone crushing drums replace your average hook. Flatline works best as a soundtrack to a boiling moshpit and they make no bones about injecting testosterone inside the listener’s ears with a muscular opener entitled “Blessed By Death.” Packed with the same self-empowering message of Hatebreed plus the beefy heaviness of Killswitch Engage, “Blessed By Death” sounds destined to join Flatline’s set list forever and ever.

Unfortunately matters take a turn for the worst on succeeding tracks, first there’s the numbing “Generations Fall,” which recalls the last albums from Slipknot and Devildriver. Then “Collapse” arrives with all grooves blazing even if such virtues don’t spare it from redundancy. “Dying Breed” is another showcase of the band’s penchant for embrace trends. In this case they do a worthy imitation of chunky Lamb of God circa “As The Palaces Burn.” A little redemption by way of originality arrives with “Nefarious” but it’s just as quickly ruined by another plagiarized Lamb of God tune titled “The Passing”—why does this sound so much like “Laid To Rest”?

It’s on the latter half of “Pave The Way” that Flatline begin to improve, beginning with the excellent “Deleted” where frontman Travis Johnson shouts “Go-fuck-yourself!” at the chorus in his best Jamey Jaasta meets Dez Fafara holler. Proving that they have more to them than recycled breakdowns and a few crucial influences, “God As My Witness” is introduced by soothing guitars melodies until everything comes crashing down for the heavy part. A surprise comes by way of death metal on the evil “Worn Thin,” yet the best is saved for last as the ripping thrasher “Mulch” closes the curtains on this flawed debut.

While their musicianship is faultless, Flatline remain hard pressed to stand out from the US metal scene at large. So much of their new stuff sounds like so much else it risks incurring the wrath of discriminating metalheads lurking in obscure discussion boards. Nevertheless, one hopes “Pave The Way” can indeed pave the way for a better follow up sometime next year.

note: 6/10

Tracklist

1.Blessed By Death
2.Generations Fall
3.Collapse
4.Dying Breed
5.Nefarious
6.The Passing
7.Deleted
8.God As My Witness
9.Worn Thin
10.Mulch

Line-up

Travis Johnson-Vocals
Randy Weitzel-Guitar
Paulo Guerra-Guitar
Hector Gonzales-Bass
Tim Hassemer-Drums