After All - This Violent Decline

After All is a Belgian band that plays modern thrash with a touch of Gothenburg-style melodeath. However, the vocals feature traditional singing, which makes for an interesting combination – imagine The Haunted with ’80s metal vocals. This Violent Decline is my first exposure to these guys, who’ve put out six full-lengths since the early ’90s. I must say, I’m extremely impressed.

After years of hearing metal with growled, screamed, and rasped vocals, actual singing is somewhat of a relief to my ears. At first, it seems a little dramatic, but it’s nowhere near as ridiculous as today’s power metal. The vocals are strong and are what make this band stand out. Every other part is firing, though. The band is tight, the riffs are memorable, the leads are concise but fiery, and clean tones occasionally pop in for variety. Some vocal patterns and harmonies in the middle are very reminiscent of Slayer, but the band definitely injects its own melodic flavor. There’s not a weak track here.

Fredrik Nordström did the mix, with Tue Madsen on mastering, and the results are as expected – clear, heavy, and compressed. I’m growing tired of this sound in metal, but it’s perfect for this material. You can get this album at The End or directly from the band.