From Exile - Monolith

ARTIST........: From Exile
TITLE.........: Monolith
LABEL.........: Independent
URL...........: http://www.fromexile.com
GENRE.........: Metal
QUALITY:......: 215 kbps avg/ 44100Hz / Joint Stereo

RIP DATE......: 2010-01-19
RELEASE DATE..: 2009-11-27

Tracklist:
----------
01. Arrival                                              4:51
02. Impure Visionary                                     3:58
03. Apparition                                           3:32
04. Exhumed                                              3:32
05. Veritas                                              2:12
06. The Unlearning Dissent                               2:20
07. Monolith                                             7:11
08. In The Faded Silence                                 4:13

					         Total	31:49

Release Notes:

In the current digital age, the idea of a band being “independent” has blossomed
to levels previously thought unimaginable. Record labels will always have an
omniscient presence in the music industry, but the Internet has given a voice to
unknown and aspiring talent. From Exile has used this tool to put their debut
album “Crushing Reality” up for free and market themselves to the masses in
anticipation of their sophomore effort “Monolith.”

Marking a new direction for the band, their second album focuses heavily on the
instrumental aspects, as guitar duo Eric Guenther and Ben Wetzelberger put on a
clinic that is ear-opening in its execution. “Crushing Reality” was a melodic
progressive death metal album, highlighted by raspy screams, ten-plus minute
opuses, and an unfortunate tendency to wander haphazardly through dull sound
pieces. The most noticeable difference between the two albums is how tight the
band has gotten as songwriters on “Monolith.” The eight tracks pack in plenty of
tempo shifts, atmosphere changes and crushing riffs, with none of the filler
that was present in their debut.

“Monolith,” while split into separate tracks, could be seen as a conceptual
piece of music. Each song fades into the next one, creating a half-hour epic
that never ceases to astound on a musical level. The guitarists work together as
a cohesive pair, trading off spell-bounding solos and soaring harmonies that
trail off into an unknown oblivion. There are more dimensions to the guitar
playing than just wanking and overindulgent tomfoolery; witness the classical
acoustic interlude in “Impure Visionary” or the soothing vibes transmitted on
closer “In The Fading Silence.”

More than anything, From Exile knows how to set a mood. Ambient sections give
off a light, airy feel to shorter number “Veritas,” while brilliant opener
“Arrival” crushes the listener’s chest in with the impact of an exploding fire
hydrant. The epic title track sums the entire album up in one song, as the
sublime guitar interplay builds to a soulful piano outro. The instrumental front
on “Monolith” is important, as the vocals have been toned down a great deal. The
harsh barking has been replaced by an occasional Cynic-esque clean vocoder style
that is cold and mechanical.

The band got several members of death metal heavyweights Daath to have a part in
the creation of “Monolith.” Daath guitarists Eyal Levi and Emil Werstler handled
production and guest solos, respectively, while the drums were played by the
legendary Kevin Talley. Having a band with the brutal sound of Daath interact
with the progressive sound that From Exile brought to the table combined into a
perfect match. While the bass is too low in the mix, and the drums seem to lack
some punch as well, Levi did a stellar job putting an emphasis on the guitar
work, where it belonged.

It’s nice to be surprised every once in a while by an unsigned band and From
Exile does just that. After a major line-up change that saw the amount of
members split in half, the band pushed forward and took this new-found
opportunity to explore unfamiliar territory. The biggest improvement in the
three years since their debut is the tighter songwriting, which puts quality
over quantity. “Monolith” is not only for instrumental/progressive-obsessed
music nerds, but those that value substance over monotonous metal clichés.