Review: Neuraxis The Thin Line Between

June 27, 2008 by Scott

Canada’s Neuraxis will release The Thin Line Between on July 22nd through Prosthetic Records. Prepare yourself the technical brutality at it’s best.

With all the “extreme Metal” bands out there today it’s tough to do reviews. Some are so far out there that when you first hear them you immediately want to push eject and some have that factor that grabs on to you instantly with something different. This is one of those bands. Neuraxis have a sound that sets them apart from other metal bands with technicality in playing that doesn’t over do it. You know, those modern metal bands that can seem to have so much going on that it can actually distract you from the music and makes you lose interest?

Neuraxis’ Thin Line Between has a technical beauty to it. The leads that are catchy enough to mix well with simple rhythm. Vocals that aren’t over-done, yet keep the brutality factor at all times. Drums with great rhythm that don’t overpower and take anything away from the rest of the music. The double bass kicks and kicks hard but doesn’t become boring and redundant like a lot of metal blast beats have become these days. There are a few acoustic arrangements here and there that become an essential part of the music that builds up into a fury of crunchy, ripping rhythm. Confused yet? Don’t be. It all comes together in a masterpiece that Neuraxis and Prosthetic Records can be proud of for years to come.

Darkness Prevails starts things off great with a thundering drum beat to move into a slicing rhythm of technical guitars riffs. Have I said technical enough yet? Wicked creeps in with acoustic guitar that turns into a nice slow distorted groove and then rips into a cutting edge beat down. The lyrics read through the song like such: “Then the machine walked / And the children cried? Over old warm stone / Shattered and half buried / Their bodies lay broke /covered with dust aside the road“. The title track, The Thin Line Between leaves no time to rest and is an all out assault, tearing a new boundary. As one line says, this song is “Genius and Maniacal”. Standing Despite gives your neck a slight rest between Dreaming End and Oracle with a cool but short instrumental that has a soothing effect…that is until Oracle kicks in and the gloves are off again. The last song, All and nothing has another acoustic arrangement at the beginning that has you thinking that your poor banging head is getting another rest. It is…but it’s a short intermission before getting back to the ass kicking with guest vocals from Chris Alsop from Torn Within.

Alex Leblanc’s vocals are not really different from some other extreme metal vocalists out there but they are consistently brutal (I know, that word is over-used in metal these days…but until we find a better word we’re going to keep using it) and sounds great. Rob Milley and William Segher work well together and both know how to rip the solos through and through. Yan Thiel has to be a skilled athlete on the Bass Guitar in order to keep up with William and Rob. lastly Tommy McKinnon’s drumming is amazing to say the least. Lyrically this album is nothing short of brilliant. This record is well produced and well taken.

The Thin Line Between Gets 4 for 4