Plagues

Bland is a word often used to describe food that's neither good, nor bad; it shouldn't be used to describe music. Music, by its very definition, should avoid this stigma; it's art, and art is an expression of one's self, so to discount that as nondescript is contrary to the very goal of its creation. Unfortunately, banality is the result of an overdependence on emulation during creation. This is Plagues' problem on Perfect State; it's simply a rehashing of what's been done before by usual metallic/heavy hardcore influences such as Converge or Tragedy. Tribute can be paid in a way that isn't necessarily creative, but creatively compelling in execution. That is to say, copying that which came before, but in an interesting way. Unfortunately, Plagues miss that mark with Perfect State, which is a competent, but non-stimulating platter that, like bread and butter, only provides the basics.