ARSIS

Visitant

AGONIA Virginia’s melodic death metallers in need of sharper teeth Coming out a year after The Black Dahlia Murder’s flawless Nightbringers,

Arsis have an extremely high benchmark for their own first album in five years. TBDM’s Brandon Ellis steals the show here, with some scintillating lead work to complement the savage riffs and larynx-shredding vocals of James Malone. The fiendish nature of Easy

Prey and lumbering harmonies of Fathoms help break up the vituperative sound that the band have spent the best part of 20 years honing, while synths add a carnival atmosphere to Death Vow. Visitant is technically astute but lacks the hooks to accompany the sharp musicianship, leaving little lasting impression.