Veil of Maya "The Common Man's Collapse"

Is it so technical that it lacks personality? Is it so machine-like in its precision that it ends up too rigid? As I listen to Veil of Maya's sophomore full length, The Common Man's Collapse, I ask myself those things. And usually the answer is "yes."

Certainly taking some influence from Meshuggah, Veil of Maya's songs are anchored by complex rhythms and hard-to-decipher, atonal chugging patterns. Every note, every chug and every drum hit is precisely delivered and squeaky clean, one of the many testaments to the band's skill. Blast beats and frantic riffs, and driving death metal parts pepper the songs; flashy arpeggios hint at a tinge of Between the Buried and Me.

Instrumentally, there's hardly a sound that's worthy of complaint. But the songwriting bravado of the aforementioned acts is largely absent on The Common Man's Collapse, leaving its 10 songs stale and forgettable. Even though the tracks usually last three or four minutes and comprise a relatively huge amount of sweet riffs and skillful tempo shifts, they don't seem to get anywhere. The only thing I ever remember is the lush, crafty melodicism of "It's Not Safe to Swim Today" -- the melodic chord progressions and subsequent twin-guitar harmonies work tremendously in Veil of Maya's favor.

This is a well executed hybrid of death metal and contemporary metalcore, but it leaves a lot to be desired. With some songwriting flair, Veil of Maya would be on to something.

Veil of Maya - It's Not Safe to Swim Today

If it does for you a little more than it did for me, you can buy it here.