It’s become increasingly apparent to me that the tech-core, discordant metalcore movement seems to be entering a second generation of sorts. While the first generation thrived on pure Dillinger/Converge discord and angular complexity, this second generation, taking more than a nod from Between the Buried and Me, is more willing to experiment and evolve their sound and push the envelope of the genre a bit.The better of these BTBAM inspired acts include The Human Abstract, Dead Man in Reno, Protest the Hero, The Demonstration, Demise of Eros and Chicago’s Veil of Maya, formed from the ashes of obscure melodic death metal band Insurrection and the melodic death metal aspect seems to remains tangible within the bands jagged tech metal approach.

Not nearly as continually acidic as label mates Harlots, though far more vocally vitriolic with some truly impressive deep growls from Adam Clemens (along with expected metal metalcore schrieks), Veil of Maya rumble and roar through 8 tracks of artfully caustic chaos that’s free from clean interludes of clean vocals. The chaos is well sprinkled with the suddenly popular solo and lots of well placed melodic moments; not piecemeal interludes, but a deft harmonies overlaying the usual death metal inspired lumbering and lurching. “All Things Set Aside,” “Indefinite Bloodlust,” “Sever the Voices,” make the latter stages of the album an above competent entry that hints, that with some fine tuning (possibly in the production department, though I respect the band’s decision to not go for a cookie cutter sound), Veil of Maya could be as good as BTBAM or The Human Abstract.

However, the rap metal closer “The Session” on All Things Set Aside raised an eyebrow, though certainly not as cheesy as Obituary’s infamous “Bullituary,” and a bit more menacing in its rap prose and delivery it does across as a bit gimmicky and forced. Still, it doesn’t really deter from the album’s above average quality and shows that the band isn’t all business and has some personality.

[Visit the band's website]

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