Arma Gathas
Dead To This World

June 2010
Released: 2010, Metal Blade
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Demonator

Usually the words "melodic", "hardcore" and "metal" popping up anywhere on the same band bio would send chills down my spine similar to reading "Barbara Bush naked" anywhere in a single sentence. Still, given Metal Blade's generosity over the years, it would be untoward of me to simply act as though I never received the promo for Arma Gathas' latest jaunt, and quite frankly I'm glad I gave it the time of day.



The first important point to note about this Swiss quintet is that any and all of the band's PR-stated comparisons to Hatebreed refer strictly to their sound circa SATISFACTION IS THE DEATH OF DESIRE. That means that modern metal mainstays like the grossly overused beatdown make way for honest to goodness riffs - an art that Arma Gathas prove more than adept on "The Rise & Fall", "The Lies of Man" and "New Savior". When they do muscle up so to speak, the results are often outstanding - a coda at the tail-end of "The Damage Done" proving every bit the mosh pit detonator that Machine Head's "Davidian" was back in the day.



Don't go expecting anything nearly as groundbreaking, mind you. For all of DEAD TO THIS WORLD's merits - and the record has plenty - cynics will write it off as a record they've heard before, and they'd probably be right to do so. Yet, in a world where imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Arma Gathas's influences can take DEAD TO THIS WORLD as a sincere compliment.