Ode to the Dead, the newest album from brass metal pioneers from Montreal, Fallstaff, is interesting to say the least. Trumpets and brass instruments aren't something I normally associate with metal but hey, sometimes different is good. In this case, different is great. This is a very uniquely original album that ticks off a lot of boxes I look for in metal, a couple of them being aggression and new, interesting sounds. I've always liked symphonic elements in metal as well as violins, but something like a trumpet I hadn't heard before. The opening track, Sunless Friday, is an aggressive wall of sound featuring the unique sounds of a trumpet which, at first, will make you go what am I listening to? But after adjusting to it, the song is incredibly diverse. The powerful voice of Ian Lavoi sweeps the listener away in a heavy deluge.

Ode to the Dead, the title track of this album, starts fast and furious with pummeling guitar riffs, quick drums, and the presence of the trumpet tying it all together. It's definitely not something I've heard before, but I'm here for it. Ian's voice once again is a star of this song along with the incredible instrumentation that layers this entire track. The brass elements work extremely well and I appreciate the aggressiveness of this song and of the band in general. The way Ian screams is great and it reminds me of a hardcore band. Battered Soul begins with the angry vocals of Ian along with blistering riffs which you can feel. Once thing about this band is the energy you feel listening to some of these songs. I can only imagine the size of the mosh pits when this band is playing. The breakdown in this track with the trumpet accompanying it is one of the most unique breakdowns I've ever heard in metal and I appreciated that a lot.

The 5th track of this album, Under the Same Sky, is very frenetic but it has a more melodic sensibility to it. This time Ian starts the song by doing clean vocals which work extremely well before he goes back into his unique brand of hardcore screaming which is enrapturing. The chorus of this song is very interesting as well as a lot of the album doesn't follow a typical song structure. It's more a crazy cacophony of sound than something that's easily accessible, but that's not a detriment to the album. Fallstaff is a band that does its own thing and is very comfortable doing its own thing.

I had an absolute blast listening to this record and it was one of the most unique listening experiences I've had in quite sometimes. Every element works and the idea of using a trumpet in metal adds an extra level of heaviness to the band that brings a smile to my face.