It’s a while since I listened to Manchester based Allerjen, a band that like to partake in the so called jack-hammering groove metal genre. Their two EPs released in 2007 and 2008 has seen a lengthy gap before any new product, something that bands should avoid if they want to keep their name known in the scene. With this full length I was hoping for something a bit fresher than the EPs which whilst good in themselves haven’t really nestled in my metal psyche since I first heard them. Taking that step up from mediocrity to scene recognition isn’t an easy one even for bands that might tour tirelessly trying to make a name for themselves.
This full length sees the band going for a cleaner sound than the EPs but still a heavy weight in terms of the guitar sound. The band also likes to notch up the drum sound which is clinical but hefty enough to create a few holes in your cranium if you allow it. The album kicks off with the bruising “Destroyer Of Worlds” a head nodding neck shaking song to grit your teeth and see how long you can keep the headbanging pace. The vocals are very throaty and harsh, and currently my mind cannot decide if I like them or not, as they very rarely change in tone. The band focuses on delivering stomping riffs and crunching beats on “Treachery Be Thy Name” whereas “The Process Of Being” is far more tuneful with some very good harmonic lead work coasting along within the tune. In places I was reminded of C.O.C.’s latter material with the Southern groove and power riff base. I’d even go so far to say there are Metallica moments in the riffing here and there in a few places on the album, they are subtle, but noticeable. “Beyond The Promised Land” is likely to be tagged as deathcore which is incorrect, due to the stop-start riffing and downtuned breakdown riff used.
“Disregarding Benefits” has a very different riff with a good beat and double kick that adds plenty of muscle as they always do leading into “Hunter” which is upbeat and quicker than the other songs so far, though this is in no way a quick album, instead focussing on sledgehammer riffs, chunky bass lines and thudding drum work. The second half of the album sits more favourably with me as it is quicker generally as on “Achieving Equilibrium” and the death ‘n’ roll like “Eternal Night”. I didn’t quite get the piano section finale on “Humanoid” but I did like the closing tune “Embrace The Divine”, with its mammoth beat. The song is monstrously dense and almost has a slam riff. This tune like the others emphasises ball crushing riffs rather than frenetic speed and really made the album stand out. Quite whether this album is enough to get Allerjen back into my mind in the long term one can only guess, though I intend to check them out live as soon as possible as I thoroughly expect to have my rib cage flattened with their riffs.
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Martin Harris
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