Eyeconoclast

Whether in history or music, Romans are true gladiators and Eyeconoclast are a pack of five. The Italians fight to keep it fresh on Drones of the Awakening, their second full-length release and first on a major label. Take Sepultura's Beneath The Remains and Nihility by Decapitated and blend. The result is Eyeconoclast's concoction of deathrash. Blisteringly fast and chaotic, "Proclaiming From Dead Dimensions" introduces the record with Giuseppe Di Giorgio's piercing shriek and guttural trade-offs. Squealing axe and staggered percussion conduct the mosh pit during the conceptual "Rise of the Orgamechanism" and "Dawn of the Promethean Architect" (hear that Brazilian riff?). It's evident that Drones of the Awakening was written with statements of rebellion against a conformist monster. In "Sharpening Our Blades on the Mainstream," you can hear Eyeconoclast's statement of going against the grain in every pulsing note. Guitarists Stefano Morabito and Alesso Cosenza rip relentlessly on "XXX — Manifest of Involution" and Mauro Mercurio is the best human metronome for such a speedy ensemble, but as the album reaches closing track "Executioner (Slayer of the Light)," it feels as though it was heard 20 minutes prior under a different title. The musicality on Drones of the Awakening is like a victory over the Trojans, but every punch and swing of the sword is the same — no interludes, handshakes or change of arms in-between. Drones of the Awakening is an extreme attempt to "battle the mainstream" and despite its tight compositions, Eyeconoclast are short one weapon: variety.