Here’s a solid little self released, 11 track ‘album’ (eight 2008 demo tracks and three 2009 demo tracks) from this New York act who should appeal to fans of All Shall Perish, Within the Ruins, Antagony, Born of Osiris, The Faceless and such; that’s to say a form of polarizing modern metal that’s part technical death metal and part melodic metalcore/deathcore.

Now that most of you have left, Ever Forthright, as with many young bands nowadays are obscenely talented, especially guitarists Nick Llerandi and Billy Anderson who inject lots of the now standard sweeps and arpeggios into the chaotic blasting and occasional breakdown. Either way, for fans of the genre, there’s a lot to like about this self released effort. The playing of Llerandi and Anderson is very tight, with lots of stop start shreddage, dual vocals and more of an emphasis on technical structures without being too indulgent. The programmed drums don’t sound too bad, and sometimes the vocals of Llerandi and James Beach can be a bit overwhelming, but overall everything compares favorably to any of their large label released, teenage peers.

And speaking of their peers, Ever Forthright, look to have actually graduated from High School, or even college, and the maturity is tangible as none of the songs seem to forced or try too hard to be one thing (brootal) or another (trendy). While the almost continual shredding that graces every short, sharp song may annoy some, I found them to be very well done as the likes of “Prevailing Circumstance”, “Insufferable Foresight”, “An Alias Perspective” all deliver elements that the aforementioned bands have, but with a sense of maturity rather than childish ostentatiousness.

The last three, newer tracks (“Purblind”, the complex but slow churn of “Split The Hollow Apparatus”, “Let The Battery Consume You”) seem to have slightly tighter production, and head into even more furious, over the top tech death with less melody in the solos, but the vocals are still a bit too much. However, these guys easily have the chops and skill to go toe to toe with the likes of The Faceless and Born of Osiris – a perfect match for Sumerian Records methinks.

Very promising stuff.

[Visit the band's website]

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