SILENCER -

SILENCER - DEATH OF AWE - MAUSOLEUM  
Underground thrash metal band Silencer might hail from Colorado, but the sound might just as well be described as Umea-based. Umea, as fans know, is home to Meshuggah and source of inspiration for another Swedish band, Darkane. That being said, Silencer is impressive in its own right. The band plays to a Swedish formula, but is not about to play coy either. The huge and chunky riffs on Death Of Awe mingle with speedy passages to hit the listener like a slab of concrete that has taken flight. The sterile production and the metaphorical and dispassionate lyrics are further ammunition for the cause. Having said that, the snare and bass drums need more power and heaviness. In contrast, the leads are exactly as they should be. They add to the songs and to the mega-heaviness with their periodic screeches. Further kudos go to the bass work of Jeff Alexis and the manic vocal spew of Chad Armstrong. The backing vocals on The Harvest have to go though. They are extraneous and push the band further into the Swedish territory, which given the existing comparisons the band should be eager to avoid.
If one track has to be noted as a standout, then Redshift is probably the contender. This song is just that much more intense. The lead/rhythm interplay on Fracture is no less devastating, further showcasing the band’s technical aspect.
Silencer, with its nonexistent profile, is one hell of a dark horse that deserves a bigger recognition than it has hitherto managed. Death Of Awe should do it. - Ali “The Metallian”