EARTHBORN EVOLUTION

"Earthborn Evolution" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Canadian death metal act Beyond Creation. The album was released through Season of Mist in October 2014. Beyond Creation was formed in 2005 and released the generally well received debut full-length studio album "The Aura" in 2011. Bassist Dominic "Forest" Lapointe is also a member of fellow countrymen Augury, B.A.R.F. and Atheretic.

The music on "Earthborn Evolution" pretty much continues the technical/progressive death metal style, which was initiated on "The Aura (2011)". Artists like Augury, Fallujah, and to some extent Obscura are all valid references. What sets Beyond Creation apart from other similar acts is the dominant bass playing by Dominic "Forest" Lapointe, and while the rest of the music is also incredibly well played, it's his playing that's the real highlight on "Earthborn Evolution". It's nothing short of amazing. The rest of the music is fairly standard technical/progressive death metal with tons of tempo- and time signature changes, ultra fast fretboard runs, semi-jazzy guitar solos, and a suiting level of brutality. It's all delivered by true professionals, but the vocals sound a bit soulless to my ears. They are pretty monotone growling, and not even the occasional higher pitched screaming vocal part can save that part of the music from being a bit one-dimensional. Lead vocalist/guitarist Simon Girard gets the job done, but not more than that, and sometimes I get the feeling that the vocals are an afterthought instead of an integrated and important part of the music. That feeling is further enhanced by the fact that there are so much going on at any given time during the albums playing time, that this could easily have been released as an instrumental album.

The material are generally very complex, both in structure and in execution, but that of course won't prove a challenge to fans of this particular death metal style. Not many tracks stand out, as the band focus more on technical playing than they do on hooks, but I'd mention "Sous La Lueur De L'Empereur" as one of the highlights. It's got some memorable themes, and I think the album could have prospered from more tracks like that, featuring more memorable hooks.

When that is said "Earthborn Evolution" is still a high quality release in the genre, featuring high level musicianship, a professional take on composition, and a powerful and clear sounding production, which suits the music perfectly. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

Progressive/ Technical Death Metal a la Canada. *French* Canadians, in fact lol. These crazy motherf*ckers will thankfully crop up just about anywhere on the planet. We shouldn't ever take it for granted.

At times throughout, absolutely fantastic. Some great balance and some notable compositional excellence (diverse and dynamic); see my must-hear tracks below.

I have to mention the vocals. Backing vocals provided by guitarist Kevin Chartré are a sharp, piercing, and fittingly ugly post-Thrash, Schuldiner-esque growl, wonderfully complimenting the guttural dirges of lead vocalist (and guitarist) Simon Girard. All of the performers are talented, no doubt, but good God! I would say immediately personally noted, the bass (then Dominic "Forest" Lapointe) is incredible! Hard for me not to make comparison to the late great Sean Malone (Cynic, Gordian Knot). Nothing is made in a vacuum and, also still, this is a great compliment, of course.

No track on this album, I feel, slips into the hokey or overly (obnoxious) aggressive tendencies of many in modern Prog Metal. Even today, it's really very refreshing to my ears. I always want to know to whom guys of their ilk look (those most technical and even jazz-inclined within Metal). Who are their references for fusiony passages like track 6, "Abstrait Dialog"? I hate to assume (as much as I adore him and his work) that it's all Holdsworth. I'm sure I'm just being cynical and weird about it. But I am simply curious. Unexpectedly, these moments feel they could be interludinal material you might find on a Contortionist album.

To reiterate, not a bad song on this album, but I'm more than happy to give out the necessities.

Absolute must-hears: (2) "Sous La Lueur De L'empereur," (3) "Earthborn Evolution," (9) "Theatrical Delirium"

 Other highlights: (1) "Elusive Reverence," (6) "Abstrait Dialog," (7) "The Axiom"