RAGINPIT MAGAZINE

The Arcane Order - In The Wake Of Collisions
Released: February 5, 2008

Track Listing:
1. Death Is Imminent
2. Between Reason And Hubris
3. The Serpent Tower
4. Eruptions Of Red
5. When Oceans Become Deserts
6. Unleash The Tyrant
7. The Reaping Reverence
8. Sanctity Of Allegiance
9. Horizons Buried

Arcane Order’s second release, In the Wake Of Collisions weaves melodic death with neo-symphonic black metal and throws in a dash of crunchy thrash guitar riffing to taste. Whew! What a dichotomy! Er.... maybe?!Formerly known as Scavenger, the sophomore release from this Danish-based five piece took me some getting used to at first. While Kasper Thomsen has advanced tremendously as a vocalist since the bands debut in 2006, he still has a ways to go in regards to expanding his range. While he does introduce some low and high tonal shifts on the new album, Thomsen's overall cumbersome high pitched (and often monotoned) shriek was enough to deter me from listening to the album in its entirety a few times (keep in mind that this is being written from the perspective of one who listens to a good deal of black and death metal).

All prejudice aside, the album does consistently feature multiple layers of harmony, melody, and haunting guitar solos, which are well-accompanied by a barrage of tightly wound and amazing blast beats, double and triple bass lines, and prevalent, but not overdone, ethereal keyboards.

Each song on this album is comprised of a deliberate structure offering both chorus and melody, even if difficult to decipher beneath the thick layer of high pitched shrieks. Offered are the epic shred-style solos unique to the band’s lead guitarist, Flemming C. Lund (ex-Autumn Leaves).

On the flipside to that, the album loses some credibility in my book due to its overt reminiscence of the all too prevalent mainstream melodic black and death circles that have gone before. Much as it pains me to say this, Cradle Of Filth came to mind at the start of "Death Is Imminent," the album's opening track. This band is clearly capable of writing some killer music, judging by their aptitude to juggle difficult time signature changes with some very technical guitar work. In that regard, I expect more. A good start, but lots of room for improvement.

Recommended listening for fans of Dark Tranquility, the Haunted and In Flames.

Highlights: The Reaping Reverence, Horizons Buried, and Eruptions Of Red (for the keyboard solos!)