Extinction Six

Well, if this wasn't my personal biggest oversight of 2019, then I'm a goat's buttock. I was in possession of Dialith's debut album Extinction Six since the promo was released months and months ago. My fellow writers had praised the everloving shit out of it, and it had received critical acclaim everywhere I looked. Yet, foolish Larry here didn't bother listening to it until November. Boy, do I have egg on my face now! Not only is this an impressive, insightful and epic symphonic metal album in its own right, but this is a debut album! From an unsigned band!! The scope is enormous and Dialith deserve nothing but praise for this monumental achievement. Alright, so I hadn't ignored it completely - I was familiar with the single "The Sound Of Your Voice". The instantly recognizable combination of heavy riffage and smooth melodic refrains had me at hello.

The comparison to Dutch metallers Epica will, I'm afraid, be inevitable. True or not, this does appear to be who the American quintet resemble the most. Vicious riffs, grandiose atmospheres, orchestral accents, smooth female vocals... They even have the obligatory 15+ minute epic at the album's climax. The only thing Dialith are missing from the Epica formula is the harsh vocalist - a shame really, as I can detect many moments on Extinction Six where they could add an extra dimension to the music with some growls. The high-octane "Quiver Of Deception", or the heavier parts of the epic title-track instantly spring to mind. Neverthless, the music on offer on this LP is of the highest quality to be expected from a band of this genre at this stage in their career.

Just below the god-tier of tracks on this LP, are the songs which trundle along at a restrained pace and volume. "Where Fire Dwells" and "Libra", with their lush string orchestration, or "In Every Breath" with its beautiful choral melody are such examples. The only points this album dips below 'great' are the balladic "River Runs Dry" and the non-event "The Wraith". I have nothing against ballads, and this is the sort of album which calls for one - but unfortunately, these could not quite live up to expectations. Luckily for us there are tracks like the hammering "Catalyst", or the vibrant "Break The Chains" - which takes the tempo up to true Euro-power metal standards.

I cannot let a paragraph pass me by without devoting a chunk of time to the mammoth finale, the 17-minute epic title-track "Extinction Six". Laden with impressive orchestration which takes the forefront of the melodies for quite a while, it takes the listener through a whirlwind of emotions, anchored by a wonderful refrain and the heaviest riffing the whole disc has to offer. I still find myself reeling with awe when I remind myself that this is debut album from an unsigned act. Dialith have really outdone themselves, and most of the competition, with this masterpiece. If you're looking for something to fill in the void left by Epica in 2019, Extinction Six has you covered, and them some. Bravo!