You may not think of Buffalo, New York as a metal hotbed, but over the years there have been a few successful bands that hail from the area. Cannibal Corpse got their start in Buffalo back in the ‘80s. Groups like Every Time I Die and It Dies Today are also from there. The newest band to emerge from the area is Sons Of Azrael.
The band’s debut album is The Conjuration Of Vengeance, a punishing assault of extremity. Sons Of Azrael blend elements of death metal, thrash, grindcore and metalcore into a potent concoction that borrows from both the old school and modern metal. The songs have the brutality and speed of death metal and grind, but also the groove and memorable riffs and solos of thrash and the breakdowns of metalcore.
The vocals of Joseph Siracuse range from low pitched death metal growls to high pitched shrieks. The various musical and vocal styles make for a diverse album, but there are a few rough patches where the band seems to be struggling to find their path. Still, there are more hits than misses here, and it is a solid debut.
