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Neuraxis: Truth beyond...

11/10/10 || InquisitorGeneralis

If you are going to settle in and listen to a record by Canadian Melodic Bacon Techdeath masters Neuraxis you will need to prepare yourself for a fucking beating. I mean seriously, you are going to get that ass whupped! Put Vaseline on your face, take off any jewelry you may be wearing, be sure your medical information is close at hand, and tell your mom you love her. Thankfully Neuraxis mix a healthy dose of melody and groove in with the technical assault so this will not leave your ass as sore as if you just got penetrated by a Devourment or Deeds of Flesh album. Still, this is not music for the faint of heart.

“Truth Beyond” is Neuraxis’ third full-length and does not seem to get as much attention as Trilateral Progression and The Thin Line Between and is definitely much harder to find. “Truth beyond…” is definitely cut in the same vein as those later recordings but not as spastic and choppy. This is definitely still technical death metal with tons of time and tempo changes but the craziness is scaled back a bit and the melodic components figure in a bit more prominently. “Truth beyond recognition…” is probably the most accessible song Neuraxis has ever done and borders on being actual melodeath. Don’t worry though, just listen to the first three punishing tracks and you will realize that this is still techdeath with balls big enough to crush your pussy face. “…of divinity” and “Impulse” kick ass. There is some filler in the middle though, but “Mutiny” is a beast and along with “Truth beyond recognition” helps the disc finish strong. The shorter songs and the one interlude do not hold my attention though. For some unknown reason, I like my techdeath a bit longer and more drawn out.

Neuraxis definitely shoot for a more robotic, mechanized version of technical metal that likes to abruptly shift from blasting craziness to more melodic sections. Obviously, they have spent quite a bit of time listening to their fellow Canuckmen Gorguts’ masterpiece “Obscura”. The influence is easily heard. There are also some hints of grindcore on “Truth beyond…” as well during the albums many fast sections. Besides all those Gorguts albums, someone in the Neuraxis camp had a copy of “World Downfall” lying around too. Thankfully though, unlike many progressive/tech/whateverthefuck bands today, Neuraxis manage to not just sound like fifteen styles thrown together for kicks. The influences on here are certainly numerous and diverse, but the sound is unique and interesting.

If I could make any improvement to “Truth Beyond…” I would cut down on the amount of vocals (they are good, but the dude needs to shut up more and let the band dominate) and increase the amount and length of the heavier, melodic sections. Neuraxis can break things down and throw in melody but still keep the music heavy and interesting better than almost anyone else. Hence, they need to do it more! The musicianship is top notch. There are tons of finger fucking guitar riffs and sections and, as your would expect from Canadian extreme metal, the drumming is insane. Human/Octopus metal-drumming hybrids obvious breed in the frozen water up north because Canuck bands always seem to have standout skinsmen.

“Truth Beyond…” could use some improvement in the songwriting department but it is a solid release. If you like your death techie, try it out.

7,5

Information
Released: 2001
Label: Neoblast
Website: Neuraxis MySpace
Band
Ian Campbell: vocals
Steven Henry: guitars
Robin Milley: guitars
Van Thiel: bass
Alexandre Erian: drums

Tracklist
01. …of Divinity
02. Impulse
03. Fractionized
04. Xenobiotic
05. Reflections
06. Imagery
07. Momento
08. Structures
09. Mutiny
10. Essence
11. Neurasthenic
12. Truth Beyond Recognition…
13. Outro

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