"When Legends Become Dust"

Conducting From The Grave - "When Legends Become Dust"
February 17, 2009
Producer: Zach Ohren

    Every long time Metalhead will tell you at one point or the other they go through a phase where nothing new they find excites them as much as bands from the past. That almost every new Metal band on the circuit is just a copycat version of something that is years gone by. I know this because I myself was guilty of this on a few different occasions.
     
     I was somewhat in that state of mind again when a very good friend of mine mentioned the band Conducting From The Grave to me. So like the devout metal head that I am, I went to youtube and began my search. The quest was looking for material off their debut record: 2009's "When Legends Become Dust." So needless to say but after listening to the title track I was far beyond mildly interested, in fact I was hooked immediately.
  
     It wasn't too long before I tracked down the record and popped it into my cd player. Thus beginning a 53-minute journey that cleansed me of my self-doubt the week before and drenched me with a new found enthusiasm. That indeed there are still plenty of bands unheard to my ears that have the ability to drop my jaw and embrace my heart.
  
     Conducting From The Grave is no ordinary Deathcore band. Drawing heavy influence from various aspects of Death Metal (and even Jazz) that prosper flawlessly throughout this record. Having a taste for technical riffing and very melodic hooks and leads is ever apparent through the entire album. Tracks like "From Ruins We Rise," "Improper Burial" and "The Skies Are Blackened... Not By Clouds But Insects" are just only mere examples as the entire album is full of memorable catchy riffs and melodies.
  
      However, in my eyes the most interesting feature about this band is their approach to playing breakdowns.
  
     While breakdowns are sometimes frowned upon by listeners because some view breakdowns as just a way to lengthen a song without adding any depth to it. Conducting From The Grave prove so many people wrong as they added their own unique twist of playing lead runs and hooks over their breakdowns, truly giving them a sound like no other band I have heard to date. Tunes like "The Calming Effect," "Burdens of A Dying World" and the title track again are just mere examples as each track truly has it's own identity and specific qualities to look for. Indeed, the guitarist duo of John Abernathy and Jeff Morgan have a playing chemistry I have not seen in a very long time.
  
     With all the talk of the guitar playing on this album I must mention that the other members of this band are just as equally responsible for the brilliance of this record. Drummer Greg Donnelly indeed knows how to play the entire drum kit as he does not fully depend just on blast beats to get him through the album. In fact Greg throws quite a few different time signatures and influences in his playing furthermore making him the point of interest at various moments during this record.
  
     Working with producer Zach Ohren meant that the bass would get the attention it so rightfully deserves on this compilation. Steve Lovas, while not pumping out any bass leads on this album, nonetheless plays at a breakneck speed through many technical bass passages on this record. That furthermore at the hands of the wrong producer would have gone unnoticed if not for Mr. Ohren. For that every fan of this record and band owes him a huge thank you.
  
     Last but not least vocalist Lou Tanius delivers one of the finest vocal performances I have heard on a Deathcore/Death Metal release in quite some time. It's been awhile since I've heard a Death Metal vocalist with as much power and clarity as in my opinion the best Death vocalist in the scene: George Fisher of Cannibal Corpse fame.
  
     I realize up until this point I have only praised this album. I am a very realistic listener and usually have something to point out that could have made the record in question that much better. However, with this record I have really no concerns. I have listened to this album a full fifteen times and still do not have a bone to pick with it. Despite people who think differently than I, I do believe this is the closest thing to a perfect record I have heard in a very long time.
  
     All that is really left to say is for those fans of Death Metal/Core who have yet to listen to "When Legends Become Dust" have no idea on how much they are missing out on. This record should be pushed to the top of all their album lists. No joke this record has the changed the landscape of Deathcore music in my eyes forever.

     My Killer Kutz: "Improper Burial," "Eternally Gutted" & "From Ruins We Rise"