Italian metal quintet Anewrage are carving a strong reputation for themselves. The band aim to push all kinds of boundaries, and have toured throughout Italy and Switzerland. Although debut album Anr won them some fans, it was a derivative and generic brand of nu-metal. Over the past year, the band recorded new album Life-Related Symptoms, bringing in a multitude of new influences along the way. Given that they have been together since their formative years, they’ve had freedom to branch out their sound and break away from the mould. However, despite incorporating a more technical sound on the album, Life-Related Symptoms still feels derivative and stale.
The first three tracks are full of technicality. However the lyrics let them down. The chorus on ‘My Worst Friend’: “You’re dealing with me / you cannot bring me down” is weak and lacks aggression. However they make up for this on ‘Dancefloor’, channeling their inner post-grunge influences. The track is built on some angry-sounding riffs, each adding something different and eclectic. It is one of the few tracks that sets them apart from their contemporaries, as it takes the listener on a journey.
It’s clear that where Anewrage shine is their slower, post grunge songs. Perhaps this could be traced back to their roots, and they feel comfortable staying on this path. However on some of their more technical songs, it becomes so complex it’s forgettable. An example of this is ‘ The 21st Century’. The track flits between a melodic, summery chorus, and some progressive riffs, however these riffs are played with a lack of emotion, leaving a grating feeling.
‘Outside’ is a dark wall of sound. The guitars are haunting, while Axel Capurro’s vocals along with the creepy glockenspiel bring the atmosphere out. Then, electronic drums are added to the mix along with some ghost-like vocals. The reverb on these vocals works well to create an atmospheric backdrop, demonstrating their diversity.
‘Insight’ is a faster, punk influenced track. It doesn’t work and makes the album feel disjointed. The final track, ‘Wolves and Sirens’ however uses the pounding drumbeat to perfection. This is blended with a simple yet effective guitar riff. It’s a perfect climax, although it leaves you wondering what if they had used these choruses throughout the album. Life-Related Symptoms has a lot of potential but the confused, complicated riffs that dominate throughout fall short of expectations.
Words by Ermis Madikopoulos