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You haven\u2019t lived until you\u2019ve heard an Australian recite Dante. Once a niche ritual available only to the geographically privileged, everyone\u2019s somethingth-favorite Australian prog-death band Xenobiotic<\/b> are using their aptly titled third LP to democratize access to this sonorous phenomenon, and some other sonorous phenomena to boot, familiar to those acquainted with much-lauded sophomore effort Mordrake<\/i>. The band\u2019s adventurous efforts are well-suited to epic literature, and, as for the subject matter, recall that this is a death metal record. But also recall, if you will, your favorite moment from Mordrake<\/i>. We\u2019ll need it later.<\/p>\n
As expected, Dante<\/i> is all about drama. Vocalist TJ Sinclair kicks off the record with narration from Inferno<\/i>, and largely directs the show from there, whether by burly roars or acrid sneers. Guitarist Nish Raghavan\u2019s repertoire of drawn-out arpeggios, palm-muted chugs, and hammer-on grooves tends to take a backseat to whatever Sinclair is doing, but comes out in force when allowed to. \u201cThe Slave State\u201d is a mid-album highlight because of his athletic interpolation of Joe Haley and Duplantier, sprinting through hammer-on grooves, then stumbling into syncopation. The following \u201cDante II: Pariah\u201d gives the whole band a chance to charge together through quick Gorod<\/b>-ey odd-time riffs and gives new(ish) drummer Matt Unkovich a nice opportunity to step back from the blasts and add a bit of flair, which he pulls off well under a solo from Raghavan and a memorable chorus from Sinclair. Whenever given a chance to hit a big new vocal moment, the band take it, but for all their effort, Dante <\/i>doesn\u2019t quite land.<\/p>\n