ALBUM REVIEW: Just Before Dawn – An Army At Dawn

Swedish war-themed Death Metallers JUST BEFORE DAWN are back with their fourth album of Metal artillery. Set for release on September 25th via Raw Skull Records.

Sombre ambience and grooving riffs start out the record with a strong Bolt Thrower vibe being launched forth. Building drums chime in with crashing waves of cymbals, accentuating the gruesome riffs as gorgeously melodic, soulful lead guitars emanate from the rhythmic opening. A primal roar sets the tone as the gritty riffs drop into barbaric onslaughts alongside a pummelled drum display. Groove-laden Death Metal can often lose some of the creepy atmospherics hidden in nuance, but Just Before Dawn have a truly haunting, spectral quality to their music much like 1914 with its ferociously driven blitzkrieg. The excellence that these Swedish madmen churn forth is monolithic, from early on it is obvious this album will be crushing.

Melody is utilised in a devastatingly heavy way with tastefully sombre guitar work coming through the decimating array of drums and growls. While driven by superb groove and rhythmic battery, the lead work does not fall short in adding something worthwhile to the music with a notable skill being showcased. Thankfully this does not detract from just how heavy the record is. With such a meaty sound, it is utterly necessary that the production would be huge, this is delivered. Monstrous riffs and drums concoct a storm of vibrant and stomping hooks for the vocalist to lay waste across with a spew of violence (and some fantastic guest appearances). These visceral stampedes are met with some contrasting doomy sections that draw out the sour notes of warfare beautifully.

Without an official vocalist, we see a melting pot of talented vocalists bring something unique to the table. This works marvellously with the walls of dense guitars, bass and vocals that rain fury alongside an ever evolving voice, like those lost in war, calling out in unison. This strange approach gives the album a very unique touch to it, that has clearly been worked upon with utmost care. The instrumentals being so magnificent means the best vocalists are required to do the sound justice, clearly these guest have been chosen very selectively and do great effect. Each section hits damned hard, which in a greater context of a fairly long (53 minute) album is impressive. Never does the sound become dull or one idea get over-indulged. The war-machine surges on like a tank through shellfire into oblivion. A journey one must hear to experience.

This album is an abyssal slab of Death Metal warfare that is phenomenally well-crafted. Drawing on the classic bands for inspiration but offering something that is a one-of-a-kind release at the same time with a graceful, glorious end result. Truly powerful, spell-binding and relentlessly crushing with an emotional maturity to the sound, Just Before Dawn have surpassed their previous (and also killer) records with this new piece of mighty Death Metal that is unmissable. -8.5/10