Battlefields Thresholds of Imbalance
by Matthew Hoffman
Staff Writer
Minnesota’s Battlefields have taken a moment from pond hockey, snowmobiling and curling to create Thresholds of Imbalance out now on Translation Loss Records. It is labeled sludge metal but with its very melodic and entertaining instrumentation not to mention the extreme metal vocals it is more like experimental stoner rock.
It is debatable if the black metal vocals should even be done at all as they are such a stark contrast to the beautiful musicality. They are though really top shelf extreme vocals but it’s a question of the necessity not the quality here.
First track “Disacknowledge” is an almost twelve minute’s long spectacularly melodic venture into the mind of an artsy very creative stoner.
The second cut “Stasis” is so pretty in its serenity that your disdain for the vocals becomes more and more evident as you dread these guys ruining the lovely jam session with the extremity and brutality of the vocal line. On this cut they actually don’t but the whole time you are on pins and needles the whole track.
Those vocals return on the ten minute atmospheric jaunt “Blueprint” which also sees numerous lovely and innovative parts including painfully slow plucking and dark ominous sound effects.
More darkness and “nature” sound effects start out the next cut the two minute “Approaching” which sees spoken word instead of extreme vocals from Rusty Steele.
The title track is more of the same special emotional and transcendent melodies within a long and well scripted journey. Here as on the entire record you hear the very appropriate drum sticks of Rob Schmidt as he leads the way once again.
The only critique here is that the guitars could possibly bring a bit more technicality through more lead work but the solos are not glaringly missing (only mildly).
Folks, the bottom line here is this is one hell of a band! They have a fantastic grasp of the unusual, and simply create wonderfully entertaining ambience filled music.
And this will be on many best albums of the year listings for 2009 before its all said and done.
This is a must buy for anyone that really appreciates creative metal music.
Band Members
Rusty Steele -Vocals
Andrew Wallin- Guitar, Vocals
Matt Ricigliano -Guitar
Ryan Cofer -Bass
Rob Schmidt -Drums
Label: Translation Loss
Track Listing
1. Disacknowledge
2. Stasis
3. Blueprint
4. Approaching
5. The Threshold
6. Of Imbalance
7. Quake And Flood
8. Nibiru
9. Majestic
Rating 8.3/10