Exist

Released in 2008, Exist is Antagonist's third album but first to gain widespread distribution through Prosthetic Records, so it's really quite shocking to witness their spot-on imitation of prime-grade, mid-decade Killswitch Engage on its very first track, "Bomb Shelter." Where have these boys been hiding, and why are they so late to the melodic metalcore prom dance? This is a backhanded compliment, to be sure, but the song's imposing hooks almost convince one to overlook the group's overwhelming artistic debt to Massachusetts' finest — until the subsequent title track's repeat offenses come a-moshing, filled with crunchy riffs spiked with melodious lead guitar flurries, clean vocals cast against the rocks of hardcore screaming, etc., then culminate in that most feared genre artifice: the breakdown. Needless to say, these musical qualities virtually define this genre of music in its most predictable and, to be fair, effective format. Other tracks like "Amnesia Ln." and "Immaculate Misconception" take a slightly different path by reducing the melody in general, and upping the death brutality in its place (using squiggly harmonics to punctuate their riffing, for emphasis), thereby making them sound like bids to stay relevant with more recent market trends in that direction. If any surprises are to be had, they're largely confined to "Angels," which takes an unexpected but much welcomed detour into the world of old-school thrash, and the ballad "Failure on Repeat," which proves to be a nice change of pace until it too partakes in some of the above-cited clichés. All of which is meant to state that Antagonist play it safe in most every aesthetic category where their chosen genre is concerned, but that's not to say they don't do it exceedingly well, within reason. Fans looking for the next breakthrough in heavy music would do well to steer clear, but fans of accomplished and emotionally charged melodic metalcore will have no qualms with Exist.