From Bandcamp, “VERITERAS is a Seattle/USA-based old-school melodic death metal band created in 2018. We strive to write heavy songs with powerful and memorable melodies, and are inspired by the Scandinavian melodic death scene.” The new album has nine songs, and “Certainty” is first. In my experience, there are basically three types of Melodic Death Metal bands. First, there are those bands who do the death side better and more pronounced than the melodic side, and a few bands who are the reverse, and finally, there are other bands who expand both into extremes. It’s this latter section that fares best IMO.

Let’s get to “Certainty,” the first song. That FWOMDM sound is pretty well established here. I know this isn’t an official term, but the first wave of these bands was formed in the early 1990’s, and there have been a couple more waves since. The idea is mostly death metal with a sprinkling of melody. “Abyss” does a bit better with the melody, and the guitar harmonies are definitely reminiscent of bands like IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, and AT THE GATES. “Last Rites” also features some twin guitar harmonies, but in my experience, if that is the only thing that a band pushes as melody, the album can become too one-dimensional.

“Sanctuary” combines the two elements I call the “IRON MAIDEN” sound and the “death metal” sound quite well. The MAIDEN sound comes from twin guitar harmonies, which is a trademark of their sound. “Blinding” feels like it has a little more of the band’s personality in it. This song is energetic, and driven, and the harmonies shine. “Retrograde” has somber and ominous tones, almost like the world is ending. The harsh vocals roar like a lion, and once they sink their teeth in, there is no escape. “Light in the Darkness” closes the album, and it’s thick with sonority. The drums and guitars roll forward and the light pierces the darkness like the sun’s rays cutting through morning fog. The key change and clean female vocals at the end are exactly what I was taking about earlier.

Overall, this was a solid album. It’s classical in the sense of sounding like the early forefathers of the genre, and there is almost enough of the band’s personality here. A little bit more personality however would really give us the flavor of what the band and album is all about. They have the talent, and the drive, we just need to hear more of what they have to offer.