- Band – https://echoesofthefallen-mn.bandcamp.com/ / https://www.youtube.com/@echoesofthefallenmn-offici3237
- 6 piece out of Minneapolis – Vox/Guitar/Guitar/Keys/Bass/Drums
- Release Dates: “Cease to Exist” = 03/21/24 / “Ghosts of Agony” = 03/28/2025
- Signaturetone Studios / https://signaturetonerecording.com/
- Tags: death metal, melodic death metal, metal, black metal, melodic metal, Minneapolis
After listening to these over 21 times since the “Ghosts” release, here are my takeaways:
Sound/Mix
The mix and balance is good, but there was a more I picked up on using higher quality speakers… which I suppose does not need to be stated. But I’m stating it because I felt I could hear a drastic difference in depth and nuance on this particular album that I do not often notice on others. So use your quality speakers for these tunes.
Performance
Engaging, head-bangy riffs that hold the course while the drums run a diversity of patterns beneath them. Cease is 6:45, Ghosts is 6:01; both blaze a quick pace but include enough shifts in rhythm and dynamics to keep things interesting. The songs are built on several riffs that are returned to, so there is some familiarity to fall back on. The band does a great job of building this familiarity, hitting everything harder each time through. Guitar theatrics are very minimal. Instead they employ higher, melodic guitar lines that compliment the deeper riffs and song themes. Both tunes have slow, dark, eerie keys that, after a few listens, really stand out as part of Echoes of the Fallens sound signature.
Highlights
Cease has insane blast-based riffs that sandwich a chorusy part (e.g. ~0:30, 0:54, & more), and the transitioning between those 2 is absolutely mind melting (“Suffocation, annihilation…”). There are also a couple sonic booms (heavy bass, thundery sounding accents) that come across on some speakers; very well timed and punishing. Ghosts (e.g., at ~0:58) has a band pause with single guitar riffing into “Down in the basement I dwell” that may possibly put listeners at risk for concussions or neck injuries. Sonic booms dropped throughout Ghosts – these are why quality speakers will make a difference.
Shade
I have to say, when I glanced at a post somewhere regarding a new release from the band, I missed the part about it being a single. So I was mildly disappointed when I got to bandcamp and could not find an album. Echoes have not released an album since March 7, 2020… right before the world shut down. It is understandable that some reformatting and regrouping took place during/shortly after the pandemic. But, with over a year between singles, y’all are sure dragging out the tease here.
Summary
Being a 6-piece there are plenty of ways to fill up sound space, as well as physical stage space for live shows. I have seen them live twice, and yes, that stage gets crowded, but this band has presence and movement that make for quite the captivating spectacle; Cease to Exist is also quite the banger live. Hoping things work out so we can hear some more from this lineup soon.
Another link to Youtube and the Cease to Exist music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPOsOTeqrKw
21 Spins. Written by Æræder