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Another week, another fantastic new German band, another promising recruit for Arising Empire, another exemplary modern metal release. This time we find ourselves in the southern parts of the country to discover a rising quartet by the name of AVRALIZE that has been quietly dropping singles for few years now to prepare for their stellar debut, and since the beginning of 2024 have entered the ever-expanding Arising Empire family. And what a debut FREAKS is, mustering all the energy, intensity, and authenticity of a typical newcomer but wrapping it with the confidence and ablity of an established headliner.
Bands tend to do few hesitant EP tryouts for many years before the coveted first LP, but the boys of AVRLAIZE have wasted no time and have jumped right into the heart of the modern scene. Their album is sort of a single collection, boasting 8 killer individual tracks that have been presented meticulously since 2022, with 'CANVAS' just dropped as the final piece of their intricate puzzle. The release strategy is reminiscent of Aviana's Corporation, and it works just as powerful here as it did there, but it also helps when your material is almost faultless and capitalises on everything the modern metal world has to offer.
AVRALIZE are young and driven, bursting with energy and full of bright ideas, and embracing the talent and vision to bring them to life in the best possible way. Musically, they are a sort of a fresh mixture between the youthful spirit and playful disregard for genre restrictios of bands like AVOID, and the raw and uncontainable vigour and anthemic approach of While She Sleeps and such. AVRALIZE have already crafted a signature sound that is perfectly described by the label as "a mix of vibe, technique and artistic creativity meets destructive breakdowns, provoking guitar riffs and catchy choruses". We don't get that very often but FREAKS is a tight selection of 8 modern metal anthems - no interludes, fillers or transitions, just proper contemporary bangers from start to finish.
Naturally, the killer opener 'LOTUS' takes central place after being fittingly used to introduce AVRALIZE into Arising Empire as a clear album and fan favourite and a synopsis of the band's countless strenghts. The following triad 'HIGHER', 'BRIGHT' and 'STAB BY STAB' add multiple layers of raging emotions, passion and chaotic fury to their sound before the latest addition 'CANVAS' reveals a more radio-friendly yet equally driven side. Towards the end three songs, the anthemic 'ALIVE' and AVRALIZE's 2022 debut title track 'FREAKS' bring the album to its deserved grand finale but for me it is the second to last masterpiece 'OVERDOSE' where the band truly lets their creativity fly high with no restrictions.
Remember this debut sound by AVRALIZE, also remember the names of Severin Sailer (vocals), Philipp Tenberken (guitar), Valentin Noack (bass) and Bastian Golz (drums) for their band has a key role to play in the future. As far as first LPs go, one can hardly deliver a better introduction than FREAKS. Relentless, diverse, catchy, vibey, groovey, describe in any way you want, but either way, it is above else an example of what good modern heavy music is all about, and you bet there is much more of that coming soon!
AVRALIZE - 'FREAKS'
Country: Germany
Released: 22 March 2024
Label: Arising Empire
Tracklisting:
1. 'LOTUS'
2. 'HIGHER'
3. 'BRIGHT'
4. 'STAB BY' STAB
5. 'CANVAS'
6. 'ALIVE'
7. 'OVERDOSE'
8. 'FREAKS'
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