The Human Abstract - Midheaven

Published September 24 2008

*=Staff's pick	A Violent Strike Procession Of The Fates Breathing Life Into Devices This World Is A Tomb* Metanoia* The Path Echoes Of The Spirit* Calm In The Chaos Counting Down The Days* A Dead World At Sunrise

Genre	Progressive Mathcore	Nathan Ells	Vocals
Tracks	10	Dean Herrera	Guitar
Runningtime	44 Min.	Andrew Tapley	Guitar
Label	Hopeless Records	Sean Hurley	Bass
Release	19 August 2008	Brett Powell	Drums
Country	USA	Sean Leonard	Keyboard
Similar artists	Rage Against The Machine, Evergrey, Atheist

Among an argosy of intrepid bands showcasing little originality, or individuality, not to mention a cartoonish name mirroring every other act under the rainbow, depending on its sub-genre classification; along comes The Human Abstract, a band who defies comparison, but remonstrate with layers of talent.

Their ontological cogency, eclectic suggestion, and dynamic stage persona affected me when I saw them open for All That Remains. I'm well-known for writing about all things Metal, but this time I'll focus more on the music, than the sounds of steel.

THA is not a band for everybody, and even when I listen to the CD, I find myself thinking of clearly non-Metal acts. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it may surprise some of you, I do enjoy other types of music, and have so for over three decades, but Metal Is My Life!

The most unique, qualifying character of THA is their vocalist Nathan Ells. His style fluctuates from tricky Trip-hop to borderline Prog. Rock. I easily detect Mike Patton (Faith No More), Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Tim Lambesis (As I Lay Dying), & Tom S. Englund (Evergrey) as influences.

Throughout the majority of the album Nathan opts for a cleaner, more polished articulation, with momentary fits of anger, and regression, interspersed by the desultory rhythmatic persuasions, and timely perculations.

Musically, the songs follow a progression of fatalistic time changes, and that mathcore paradigm; espousing that contraband recon fusion. Each decisive song breathes, lives, and allows for strident rumination. Rush, Porcupine Tree, and Dream Theater delve into the chaos. I'm even reminded of the once great Quiet Room. There is also the technical deathrash quality of bands like Atheist, Cynic, Arsis, Meshuggah, & their ilk.

The song themselves are conjoined conceptually, as told through the eyes, and prismatic hue of a man's journey through the vicissitudes of life. The path he follows is riddled with despair, wonder, and intrigue. His critical conditioned social commentary is well pronounced in the preachy proliferations by Nathan, very reminiscient of Rage Against The Machine, and the meaningful messages of mind-soul's Fishbone. As the traveller experiences his own metanoia, the listener emotes, and merges with the echoes of the spiritual litany.

The booklet is replete with many lyrics, and the prolixic stance of The Human Abstract, as well as, the social intrigue of Nathan's garrulous interchange add spontaneity and power to the diatribe, counting down the days, and years of desolation.

If you seek out a band, who I assure you, will leave their indelible scar on the mind odyssey of the musical milieu, and if you want something different, but mettle at heart, take a journey to Midheaven.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
8	7,5	8	8,5	7

Summary
7 chalices of 10 - Michael the MettleAngel