Norwegian band DIENAMIC was formed back in 2009, making their debut as recording artists with an initial EP in 2010 with their full length debut album following in 2012. “Afterlife” is their second full length studio album, and was released in the spring of 2015.
This relatively young band appear to know their thrash metal history fairly well, and it would appear that their aim is to combine old school thrash with more modern varieties of pace-filled and intense metal, and as Lamb of God is a stated influence metalcore is a word easy to toss into this particular context. As with most bands I would guess that these guys aren’t really going ahead with this in a planned strategic manner, but that they create the music they want to play, and that the different tendencies and associations are more of an accidental feature. At least that often tends to be the case. Still, as far as a general description goes, if you can envision Cliff Burton era Metallica having a go at metalcore you should have a fairly good idea about what to expect from Dienamic on their second album.
In more detail we’re served compositions that alternates between powerful, groove-laden riff constructions with more of a minimalistic melodic character, pounding powerful riffs with and without melodic overlay, occasional detours into frantic escapades with somewhat more of an old school extreme metal sheen to them and some careful intermissions of a more delicate nature featuring light toned undistorted or acoustic guitars. The latter detail sparingly but effectively employed I might add. The rhythm section is tight and powerful, and the lead vocals gruff in a James Hetfield kind of way, but more aggressive and angry sounding. Old school thrash lightly flavored with metalcore, with some extreme metal touches here and there and a few occasions that have more of a grunge sound to them and a select few glimpses of music with what might be described as having a slight, subtle industrial touch to them.
Apart from a couple of tracks midways that doesn’t inspire all that much, “Afterlife” comes a cross as a quality product of it’s kind. As with many other albums I come across this is a well made and well performed album, with title track Afterlife and the longer, more sophisticated concluding track The End as the ones I’d highlight as the most appealing to my personal taste. Fans of old school thrash metal should be a key audience, and in particular those amongst them that also enjoy listening to bands that touch base with metalcore and similar styles of music now and then.
My rating: 76/100
