Astralborne are a melodic death metal band from the US and this is their second album.
Featuring a member of Blood of the Prophets, Across the Aeons takes us on a 56-minute journey into cosmic melodic death metal, via 12 tracks, (including an In Flames cover).
With the In Flames cover Astralborne are wearing their influences on their collective sleeves. Across the Aeons is essentially a Gothenburg-style melodic death metal album from the 90s, only delivered with 2023 levels of technicality, extremity, and production values. Across the Aeons may have ancient roots, but it offers a contemporary vision of the style, from a band that have their own well-formed character.
Astralborne like to play at speed, with blast beats common, powered by pounding drums and countless riffs. You can actually hear the bass and the contribution it makes too, which is a rare treat. The band’s singer has a deep growl that’s blunt and brutal, while also being more legible than you might think, (he reminds me of the singer of Amon Amarth in some ways).
As you would expect, Astralborne deal in rich melody. Cascading walls of melodic guitars underpin the music, as bright leads scream through the heavens. Solos are everywhere, providing layers of emotive colour. All of the band members know their roles and instruments well, but the guitar parts frequently shine.
Further enriched with cello, acoustic guitars, and orchestral elements at key points, Across the Aeons offers a detailed tapestry of stimulating music to explore. It’s an accomplished and well-written work, and offers much melodically rich enjoyment to get your teeth into, while still retaining an edge of brutality that I like.
Across the Aeons is a very strong record, one that’s sure to give many hours of enjoyment to melodic death metal fans everywhere. If this is you, then don’t miss out on this.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 