UMUR
"Birth and the Burial" is the debut full-length studio album by US metal artist Act of Defiance. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in August 2015. Act of Defiance was formed by guitarist Chris Broderick and drummer Shawn Drover after they left Megadeth in late 2014. They are joined here by bassist Matthew Bachand (Shadows Fall, Exhumed) and lead vocalist Henry Derek Bonner (Scar the Martyr, Thrown into Exile), who complete the lineup.
Stylistically the music on the album is thrash metal at it´s core, but it´s not old school thrash metal by any means, and there are often elements from metalcore and alternative rock/metal thrown in, which provides the album with a contemporary sound. I´m often reminded of an artist like Trivium and when Act of Defiance are most heavy and brutal an act like Lamb of God.
The material is generally well written although I could have wished for more memorable moments. It´s not that the music doesn´t feature melodic vocal lines/choruses, and plenty of melodic guitar solos too, but the tracks just seldom make a lasting impact. It´s powerful enough while it plays though and if you appreciate "core" tinged gruff and deeper aggressive vocals combined with cleaner vocal styles, you should have no problem ejoying the performance by Henry Derek Bonner either. There´s no question he is a skilled and very diverse vocalist.
The playing is generally a bit clinical and could probably have prospered from a more organic touch, but if you´re familiar with both Chris Broderick´s and Shawn Drover´s playing style in Megadeth you won´t be too surprised that organic playing isn´t in the high seat. They are both skilled musicians (Broderick´s shredding skills are especially impressive), but there´s just always been little feeling in what they play. The powerful and clear sound production further enhances that feeling. Nothing organic about that one either.
"Birth and the Burial" is on most parameters still a quality metal release though. The overall style is a bit generic and Act of Defiance don´t really have a unique sound that you would be able to recognise, if you didn´t know it was them playing, but the musicianship is on a high level, and the sound production is professional and well sounding if you like them clinical and metallic in nature. So a 3.5 star (70%) rating isn´t all wrong.