.. . . . ..

As I Lay Dying
“An Ocean Between Us”
(Metal Blade)

These guys are another multi style band. The opening tracks had me thinking of Metallica during their Lady Justice period or even early Scandinavian metal a la Gardenian. Then “Within Destruction” carts me off to Slayerville complete with punk riffs and Lombardoesque double bass drumming before ‘I Never Wanted’ shows me the band can be cool and trendy just like Prime Sth. And just to show me the band aren’t pussy’s, they crank it back up with the Soilwork inspired ‘Bury Us All’ before closing on a peak giving In Flames a true run for their talent on ‘Departed’. Though certainly better and more original than a cover band, As I Lay Dying need to use their obvious talent in defining a sound for themselves and be a band in their own right. True pretenders finish first in this game.

-Shan Siva