One meaning of singularity is “one of a kind,” and although Adversary aren’t completely unique, they add enough twists and turns to make an interesting debut CD. Their sound combines European melodic death metal with lots of good old American groove. They add in elements of thrash and metalcore for even more diversity.
The songs on Singularity are heavy with plenty of intensity, but also lots of melody. Driving guitars and blast beats inject extremity and brutality, but Adversary also adds plenty of hooks to make the songs more accessible. “Ashes Of Faith” even has strings, which is a nice touch.
The vocals are also diverse, combining melodic singing and harsh screams. William Clapp has a decent singing voice, and the melodic vocals are solid. I prefer the harsh vocals, as the high and low pitched screams are more distinctive and add an edge to the groove.
Singularity is a strong debut, and Adversary is a band that has the potential for commercial success while holding on to their metal credibility.
(released November 11, 2008 on Trustkill Records)
