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The Gauntlet: Autumn Offering, The |
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Autumn Offering, The Album Review
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Tracklist
1. The Great Escape
2. Revelation
3. Calm After The Storm
4. Last Desperado
5. Deflowered
6. Doomed Generation
7. Homecoming
8. Bonds In Which We Break
9. Shadows Of Betrayal
10. Beginning’s End
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Victory made a wise decision in reissuing this 2004 Stillborn debut from Florida's The Autumn Offering, a richly textured, incendiary effort that rivals the excellence of metal's best. Literally attacking the senses with abrupt shifts in time signatures, highly diverse guitar work and distinctly refreshing emotional variations, The Autumn Offering score big with hard-hitting visions of sonic dynamite such as the balls-out opening cut 'The Great Escape' and the majestic yet unruly rager 'Revelation.'
Vocalist Dennis Miller snarls his way through the disjointed headbanger 'Calm After The Storm' as if he is due for a rabies shot, but the singer also interjects several different types of voices that break things up in a very non-patterned manner. Check out this song for a ripping lead, suggesting The Autumn Offering not only have the powerful sound, but also the chops to fully back it up.
All That Remains vocalist Phil Labonte pops in for a highly tuneful guest appearance on the stellar track 'Homecoming' and it is here that the group's ability to fully rock out becomes crystal clear. An engaging, bone-crushing riff powers the cut, while Miller delivers a brusque, ominous presence. An enormous hardcore breakdown here says metalcore all the way, but the band abruptly switch gears into a dream-state melody that takes the track to an exceedingly brilliant coda.
The Autumn Offering avoid cliché verse-chorus-verse arrangements, instead opting to construct their music for maximum impact, with a plethora of variances between the musical interludes. Not only does this band grab your attention, they keep it for the life of the record, a quality that is difficult to come by.
This re-release stands as more than something to build attention for the group's new album (which hits the shelves in May). Any album that is so intricate, articulately entertaining and most importantly, gigantically heavy is one that is not merely deserving of the fans' attention. It demands it.
Review by: Erin Fox
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