The Apparatus - (the)Plasmarifle - The Apocalypse Called In Sick... Can I Take A Message?

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(the)Plasmarifle - The Apocalypse Called In Sick... Can I Take A Message?

Tuesday, 04 December 2007

Editor's rating

7.6

out of 10

Reviewed by:
Noah Richards
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Tuesday, 04 December 2007
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Music Information

Track Listing:
1. To Those That May Be Concerned
2. Star Light Star Bright
3. Black And Blue Cats

Artist: (the)Plasmarifle
Title: The Apocalypse Called In Sick... Can I Take A Message?
Genre: Death Metal
Release Date: 01 January 2006
Format: EP
Country: Canada
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Editor review

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Overall rating (weighted)		7.6
Musicianship		9.0
Composition		8.0
Experimentation		5.0
Production		8.0
Value		9.0

It's nice, after a long trip abroad, to come home. After a proverbial trip abroad, reviewing numerous releases outside of my normal tastes, it's very nice to come back to what I know best: brutal, technical death metal, and in this case, Quebec's latest offering in the style, (the)Plasmarifle. While a certain part of it is my own fondness for the style, I really think that the band's debut EP, 'The Apocalypse Called In Sick... Can I Take A Message?' is a remarkably good opening salvo from the five piece, and I actually have to recommend it in a terribly overcrowded brutal DM scene.

(the)Plasmarifle's main influence is clearly Beneath The Massacre. The technical sweep riffs aren't as constant, and there's more in the way of traditional brutal death chugging ala Despised Icon, but the stop-start rhythms and general sound are in place. The music of (the)Plasmarifle is generally composed of frantic blasting under extremely technical sweep riffs, occasionally slipping into midpaced groove passages (but not breakdowns). The level of technicality present on this EP, like many Quebecois artists these days, is insane. Each member is well above competent with their instruments; there's about two riffs that I can think of that I would label as simple, and the drumming, when not extremely technical, is faster than almost anything else out there today. Of course, the constantly stopping and starting music does add a lot in the way of micro-rests for those involved; there's hardly a 30 second interval without some pause involved. This will probably annoy the hell out of some people, but I find it pretty tastefully employed.

Production is flawless: massive bass presence makes the music seem even more powerful than before, and the overall sound is very clear and well mixed. The drum sounds in particular are excellent, with a wonderfully tribal sound to the toms and snare. The band is also very fond of using deliberately degraded production as an atmospheric effect at certain points, which I personally love. There are some slight metalcore influences, but they're rather discretely implemented, and probably won't discourage any of those who can't stand Dead To Fall. I really like the vocals on this EP: there's no squealing or gurgling, just a fairly standard variety of death growl/scream that stands as an island of convention in the fairly chaotic music. It's one of the more punishing and brutal releases I've heard recently by virtue of not only technicality, but delivery: it's just as much about what they play as how they play it.

This is a niche release, but it's quite a large niche that's only getting larger. Anyone who loves the new style of ultra-technical brutal death will most certainly want to acquire this EP, as it stands as a great example of that style. I enjoy it a great deal; it's brief and gets the point across concisely and effectively. There's something to say for restraint.

Music Information

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