Liberation Through Hearing

This is Inanimate Existence's debut album, and what an impression they made. This is one of the best tech death releases this year, up there with Akaik's Metamorphignition and Autotheism by The Faceless. In fact, as far as I am concerned, it is one of the best tech death releases of all time. For it goes beyond simple Necrophagist style technicality, there are so many different elements that this CD has its mind blowing.

The guitar playing of Liberation Through Hearing is nothing short of phenomenal, there is absolutely zero wankery to be found here. Yet it still has an incredible technical aspect. There are a lot of different styles of playing to be found here, this album has a lot of acoustic guitar for a metal album. Some songs including "Paths To Enlightenment" and "Within Lucid Dreams" have almost exclusively acoustic playing, while others such as " The Discarnate Self Paradox" and "Trancedent Absorption" ( my personal favorite off the record ) have acoustic intro's or sometimes cut off into acoustic guitar solo's. This is by no means a bad thing, the acoustic playing sets a great atmosphere for the album, and I wouldn't have it any other way. There's more of it than I would like on most albums, but Inanimate Existence does it right. The electric guitar playing is also incredible, very technical and impressive. As I stated before though, no one here is trying to show off their skill like some other bands do. Not at all, the riffs are very coherent, and though a good amount of sweeping can be found here, it's all original and once again just manages to create a very sick atmosphere. The bass is also great, and can be clearly heard throughout most of the record. It has a perfect tone and fits the guitar playing very well.

I have talked a good amount about the atmosphere of the album so far, but describing it is no easy task. Listening to the album would be the best way to discover what I am speaking of. The best way I could put it is eerie and mystical. Hell, the last 7 songs are all instrumental's, very good ones at that. Sometimes beautiful and other times dark and grim. It is an experience listening to this album in one sitting, something I recommend you do.

The drumming is superb, nothing incredibly new but still very talented drumming. There are your fair share of blast beats and loads of double bass, but unique beats will be heard as well. The beginning of " Transcendent Absorption" starts with a very fast and intense drum line that makes the music become so much more brutal than it would be otherwise.

The vocals are also great, lower than most tech death. Much more guttural and brutal sounding than say The Faceless or Necrophagist, even Arkaik and they fit the music very well.

In conclusion, Liberation Through Hearing is an absolute must have album for any death metal fan. Its technicality, brutality, and atmosphere make it a masterpiece release. There is literally nothing I can find wrong with it, I would have to search for something bad to say about it.