GABRIEL

"Gabriel" is the 4th full-length studio album by US technical/progressive thrash metal act Believer. It´s been 16 years since the release of the predecessor "Dimensions (1993)" and I think most fans at this point thought Believer was history. Fortunately lead vocalist/guitarist Kurt Bachman and drummer Joey Daub, who were also the core members on the first three albums by the band, started rehearsing and writing new material in 2005. Believer then signed a three-album deal with Metal Blade Records and "Gabriel" is the first of those three to appear. The album was released in March 2009.

16 years is a long recording break but the music on "Gabriel" is unmistakably the sound of Believer. Their trademark aggressive and technical/progressive thrash metal style is very much intact on the album. "Dimensions (1993)" was their most progressive album out of the first three and while "Gabriel" features quite a few progressive moments I´d only call it semi-progressive compared to "Dimensions (1993)". Personally it´s of little importance to me and the quality of the music is so extremely high, with lots of intriguing moments and adventurous ideas, that the more direct and less progressive sound on the album is easily forgiven. Tracks like "Stoned", "Redshift" and the wonderful ending track "Nonsense Mediated Decay" do feature a lot of progressive moments though. The latter contains samples of someone talking about alien abductions and UFOs but with the twist that those might be actions of GOD. An interesting theory for sure and another take on the UFO myth. Believer´s lyrics are still written from a christian point of view, but they are not of the preachy kind. It´s a matter of how you communicate your point and I think Believer do a great job communicating their´s.

The tracks are generally more mid-paced than the case were on earlier releases by the band but there are still furiously fast-paced technical thrash metal tracks on the album like "The Need For Conflict" and "Focused Lethality". The album is actually pretty varied and there are also some melodic clean singing on the album which is a new thing in Believer´s universe. "Shut Out The Sun" features a semi-melodic chorus and "The Brave" features real clean and melodic singing. Kurt Bachman´s vocas are even more caustic and fiercely aggressive than on earlier releases though so the few clean vocals on the album shouldn´t be a cause for alarm, for those who don´t enjoy clean singing.

The level of musicianship is high on all posts. Tight rhythmic interplay, powerful vocals, and great guitar solos make this a raw yet sophisticated and intriguing listening experience. The sound production by The Trauma Team (Kurt Bachman and Joey Daub) is powerful and dark. Seldom have I heard a more heavy and brutal guitar sound. It´s very balanced though and you can hear everything that´s being played. A very successful production to these ears.

Upon conclusion "Gabriel" is a strong technical/progressive thrash metal album. I find it highly recommendable to those who enjoy technical/progressive thrash metal with 90s sensibilities (spiced up with some contemporary ideas). A 4.5 star (90%) rating is deserved. A welcome return to a band who deserve much more recognition than they´ve gotten so far in their career.

I really don't believe my eyes. This sounds like crossover of some average trash group combined with AFI. Offering riffs (but not smart ones, rather simple and head-banging ones) with guitar solos from time to time. It's simple and it's even simply horrible (no, I'm not proud of this pun). And I don't think that nor trash, nor this prog trash is genre, where prog can grow. If there's something like that, I don't hear it. At least there are no death-metal vocals. And I'm either missing something, or there's not much good things to be heard. Only think that I find satisfying are these calmer parts (when noise ends, because in noise, what can be good about it when you don't hear anything clearly, every interesting idea that can be here is hidden inside it). But that's sadly just occasionally happening. So

2(+) for nothing. This extreme metal failed to please me. Anyway, some guitar solos are interesting.

One of the lesser-known prog-tech groups from the later eighties/early nineties reform at a time when reunions in the genre are all the range. The Christian thrash metal outfit return after a long sixteen years out with one of the most addictive albums of the year that will interest fans of thrash and progressive metal. In a year where the likes of Megadeth, Dream Theater and Slayer release top selling albums, Believer would naturally have to produce a corker of a record if they wanted to even be noticed by anybody. I guess they would truly have to knuckle down and believe in themselves (sorry).

The atmospheric Medtwon sets things alight in style. A combination of fast riffage, peculiar synthesizers and anti-war lyrics is well executed. The guitars are heavy, each chord a mighty weighted chug that combines with some Rage Against the Machine-style vocals. A complex drumming pattern opens up A Moment in Prime which provides some variation concerning textures and time patterns. During the track brief switches from soft to heavy and time alternations led by the drums show off Believer's technical and progressive tendencies which finally provide room for a soft violin outro. It's this unusual combination that makes this band beg for your attention.

A honky-tonk piano is smashed aside during the opening bars of Stoned as yet another fierce thrash riff is unleashed amongst a wave of insane drumming, Believer clearly mean business. Redshift is most developed track so far in the vein of progressive metal with extremes of light and dark experimented with perfectly, the synthesizers and pronounced bass almost giving a taste of Porcupine Tree. The next four tracks don't disappoint, more riffs are churned out and the thrash ferocity levels remain constant. The flow of riffs keeps coming yet as enjoyable as they are, none are immediately catchy. Shut Out the Sun includes some melodic vocals although the standard is another matter - that's not really the point of all this though. Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage) is one of a handful of guest musicians to make an appearance on this record. His voice is much welcomed in The Brave, the contrast between Bachman works well, although Bachman's shouting becomes rather outclassed.

Nonsense Mediated Decay is a lengthy instrumental. Nearing the nine minute mark, the frantic riffs and strange atmospherics unite and collide with sci-fi orientated voice-overs. This experimental break came at the right time; the thrash driven album takes another turn to the progressive side, strengthening the overall sound. As expected, the track is rather unusual to say the least and at times threatens to be a little too on the far-out side. Sudden tune changes are pulled off well although the finale of the track is a little anti-climatic, a shame because this had the potential to be mind-blowing.

Thankfully, the awe-inspiring album art (one of the best covers all year) isn't the only good thing about this record. Gabriel is a solid monument that contains a healthy mix of musical styles. Venturing from technical thrash to prog metal with the help of synthesized layering can be a hefty task for many. Here Believer does a fine job of it. The power on show is exceptional and the differentiation makes this record thoroughly enjoyable. Does it stand out amongst the big boys? The answer is yes it does, but whether or not it will get the gratification it deserves is sadly an unlikely eventuation.

Rating: [8]

TTT: 1) Redshift 2) Medwton 3) The Brave