MICAWBER

Beyond The Reach Of Flame PROSTHETIC Sharpened Green Bay death/thrashers fail to leave a mark

After two self-released fulllengths, Micawber finally get the chance to go into the studio with a bit of label clout behind them to give their technical thrashing death metal attack the beef it deserves. Beyond The Reach Of Flame hits the spot that Micawber were aiming for, and hard, too. Opener Full Denim Jacket thrashes and stomps in a hugely satisfying way, and some of the riffs throughout sting more than vinegar on an open sore, particularly the whiplashinducing, vicious sprint of Icon Of Extinction. But, even in the brief 38-minute running time, there’s a distinct lack of memorable songs. Even after a decade in the game you feel that Micawber still need a bit of work on their craft before they can make the cohesive album that their talents suggest they’re capable of. FOR FANS OF: PSYCROPTIC, THE FACELESS, SUFFOCATION