From Bandcamp, ANIMAMORTUA is a Maltese metal band formed in 2015 after the dissolution of their previous band. They combine aggressive guitar work, melodic passages, powerful vocals, and a fast-paced rhythm section with Thrash, Speed and Power influences.” The new album has eight songs, and “Blackhole” is first. The opening tones have an ominous quality to them in the riff and the vocals. It picks up and takes off with a fast moving riff that is fairly simple, and I never thought that Thrash and Power Metal could work in unison…but they really don’t.

“Dark Matter” isn’t much better, and the key in the vocals does not match the key in the riff. It results in a highly discordant sound, which is a shame, because the vocalist has some pipes. “Dying Universe” has a heavier sound, but the band isn’t able to develop any real melody from their music because of the disconnect between vocals and instruments. It is quite painful to listen to, unfortunately. “Heliocentric Affair” has a sturdy but overly elementary riff. The band is fairly good at the heavy side of the genre, but desperately need work on the melody side of things.

The title track flirts at first with a better connection in the vocals and instruments, but quickly falls thereafter. I hate to say it, but it makes me wonder if the band is tone deaf. The final three songs are called “Lunar Sentinel,” and they have three movements. “Inside the Machine” is first. In their attempt to create a biting sound, it just sounds fake to me…they are trying too hard in my opinion. “Operation SIN” is more of the same, and this is very painful to listen to. The final movement is 12 minutes in length, to which I ask, “why?” 12 minutes just extends the pain for me. The band aren’t terrible at their musicianship, and the vocalist has a nice range, but where they really struggle is in the development of melody, and presenting a synergistic sound. For me, it sounds like the parts were created individually and later shoved together, but none of it fits as it should.