CoC : Ataxia - The Forgotten : Review

Ataxia - _The Forgotten_
by: Brian Meloon (3 out of 5)

These guys from VA say they're trying to fill a void in the music scene of "intelligent melodic thrash written to be both brutally heavy and musically complex." The music is 90s-style chunky metal, but I wouldn't really call it either brutally heavy nor musically complex. I also don't think the tag "melodic" is deserved, at least not with the same connotation that it carries for the melodic death metal bands. Some of the vocals (lead and backing) are melodic, but the music doesn't emphasize melody. The "thrash" label does fit though, at least in the 90s sense of the term. It's well done, but doesn't really stand out in any (positive) aspect, ending up pretty average. The singer is what I really don't like about this demo. His voice is melodic at times, and sort of gruff and less melodic at others. I can't really figure out what I don't like about him, but he just sort of irritates me. I think it's a combination of his voice and the vocal melodies that he chooses. Making matters worse is that fact that he sings with a lot of conviction, which comes off sounding corny when he says things like "I know I'll never be free, my prison has no key." Musically, it's good though, with some nice drumming, and some tight playing. Overall, I'd say it's a good demo, professional enough in its approach, but not really doing enough to stand out from the pack.

Contact: ATAXIA, c/o Scott Andrews

(article published 2/1/1997)