Achilles

As this release was co-recorded by Evan Patterson, those crossing off the days on the calendar for his group Breather Resist’s new full-length would more than likely enjoy what Achilles bring to the table. Although the production lacks the crisp punch needed to make this music truly effective (particularly in the drum sound), the four-piece make up for it with a pull-no-punches, vigorous attitude. Not quite as spastic as Breather, Achilles are more reliant upon groove and overt Botch-isms than the grinding fury and occasional Drive Like Jehu homage of their counterparts. The more crushing, vaguely moshy moments bring them slightly closer to something like Norma Jean or even A Life Once Lost. The group comes across as a bit less longwinded than the majority of similar acts, and have no problem holding your attention for the record’s 27-minute duration. Unfortunately, the general tone and structure of this disc has a crippling air of familiarity about it, which prevents the tight, convincing delivery of The Dark Horse from becoming too much of a good thing. Nonetheless, this is vastly preferable to a number of considerably more irritating sub-genres receiving far too much airplay and media attention in recent months.