This is the second album from US extreme metal band Aversed.
2021’s Impermanent was an enjoyable album that mixed a few different metal styles together to deliver a satisfying result. Four years and a change of singer later, and Aversed are back with the 40-minute Erasure of Color.
Aversed have developed their sound on Erasure of Color, while still retaining their core identity. This new album is tighter and more focused; despite having the same number of tracks as its predecessor, Erasure of Color is about 15 minutes shorter. This is partially due to the inclusion of an interlude, (pleasant enough, but could easily be cut to no detrimental effect), but mainly because the songs are generally shorter. Overall, it is more brutal, and trades its power metal feel for more of a Gothic metal edge.
Erasure of Color alternates between aggression and Gothic allure. The ferocious melodic death metal metal base of the material is nicely augmented by the music’s other influences, allowing progressive touches, orchestral highlights, and technical flair to all appear here and there.
The singer has a brutal voice, and her harsh vocal delivery spans a few different types of growls, roars, and screams. It’s good to hear the range she has. Her clean singing voice is clear, expressive, and emotive. She fits the band’s music perfectly. It’s a testament to Aversed’s ability as a whole that she doesn’t upstage the rest of the band completely.
The songs are well-written, and hooks are plentiful. Some of the catchiness of the music comes from the impassioned vocals of the singer, of course, but this isn’t the only notable aspect of the songs. There are some tasty riffs and melodies that stick in the mind more than you might initially think.
Erasure of Color is a balancing act of melody and aggression that suits my tastes fine; it isn’t so melodic that it detracts from the heaviness, but the brutality doesn’t drag it down into dull, unemotive waters. To be successful in a style like this, a band need a mix of both in the right ratio, while still varying it just enough across the songs to keep things engaging. There’s a level of ferocity here that I definitely appreciate, offset by the more accessible components nicely. In this, and many other areas, Erasure of Color is well-judged.
Aversed have put together a strong and enjoyable collection of songs on Erasure of Color, and there are many strengths to be found across the album’s running time. I really like many of the solos too, and the drummer is solid throughout.
This is a really enjoyable album. Impermanent was good, but this is better. Aversed have taken their strengths, pruned away most of the fat, refined their sound in a darker, sleeker direction, and produced a set of songs that make an impression. This is definitely good enough to have a much wider appeal than Aversed currently have, so let’s hope Erasure of Color achieves this for them.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 