The Swedish death metal band Anata has been around for a while, but their profile is fairly low. That should change with the release of their latest opus, The Conductor's Departure. It's a great combination of technical skill and bludgeoning power.
The songs are long and complex, with most clocking in at over 5 minutes, which is unusually long in such an intense genre. Their sound could be described as progressive melodic technical death metal. Creative and unusual riffs and instrumental sections erupt into furious double bass blasting firestorms that ease up just in time for a very melodic hook. The one area that could use some more variety is the vocals. The death metal growls are delivered in the same pitch and intensity throughout.
There are so many cookie cutter death metal bands that sound similar. Anata defies the Swedish metal stereotype and has a very original style.
