After The Burial

Wolves Within's problems can be summed up in its first 15 seconds: an unnecessary, self-indulgent drum fill that overstays its welcome. This dilemma is indicative of a much larger one — After the Burial's lack of focus. Sure, there are more awesome parts on Wolves Within than you can shake a (drum) stick at, but so too are there plenty of misplaced ones. The band's tendency to place a fretboard-abusing, melodic run next to a groove — or at times on top of one another — is both positive and problematic. "Disconnect" and "Of Fearful Men," the latter of which comes complete with blast beats and death growls, are quintessential After The Burial. However, "Pennyweight" is weighed down with the cheesy "Fuck yeah!" intro and (ahem) triumphdjent solo. Luckily, Wolves Within — mercifully free of clean singing — is generally a return to (Rare)form after 2010's blunder In Dreams, allowing fans to relegate it to a fantasy realm. Although "A Wolf Amongst Ravens" largely lacks the album's omnipresent melodic side, it could be worse; it could be a whole groove-burdened album.