Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Autere Amal'l Company: Inverse Release: 2014 Genre: Metalcore Reviewer: T. Ray Verteramo

Pugilistic intricacy

So, who the hell are these Autere people? They have less than 1,000 likes on their website, barely more than 530 on their Facebook page and they're practically non-existent on Twitter. The album cover is about as interesting as the side of a barn…in fact, I think that's what it is. YouTube? WhoTube. WhatTube? There is NoTube.

And yet, they sound enormous. These boys can play.

Based out of Turku, Finland, Autere is hiding innovative and piledriving metalcore with skillful and pugilistic intricacy under a rock. Complex timing and tempo changes flawlessly executed by a relentless rhythm section (Markus Virtanen, bass and Tatu Turunen, drums) and rich, pissed-off guitars (Petri Huhtala and Joona Alamaki) frame egocentric, human lyrics that get the blood pumping and the brain thinking. Anssi Rissa delivers bi-polar vocals with an honest, not-too ugly / not-too pretty style that make this "core" unit truly unique and easy to connect with. The songs have a way of snapping you out of whatever you are and giving you a smack upside the head if you're not paying attention. And just when you think a verse or a phrase isn't going to go anywhere or that bizarre, augmented chord progression is going to lose you, they go in for the kill and smack you again.

There is absolutely no reason why "Circle of Kinetic Damage" should not be made into a video and streamed to death. It's full of visualization, tons of energy, and is a force to be reckoned with. There is absolutely no reason why "Redeemers" should not get airtime. It's got a great hook. There is no reason why we should be asking "Who the hell is Autere?" Yeah, sure, as I said, there are some awkward spots scattered along the list. But, they work like little suspenseful teases and for every awkward spot, there are about 10 good ones that make up for it. This is good metal.

Good metal makes you listen. These mysterious Finnish boys don't say much on the computer screen, but when they're in your ears, they own you. "Amal'l" is done well. The music is done well. It is written well, produced well, and performed well. What sucks is their publicist.