Some albums are just a long time coming.  While it’s no Chinese Democracy, As You Left formed way back in 2013, and while they’ve released two EPs in the ten years since they formed, they are yet to release a debut album.  Until now, that is.  Silver Chains Golden Veins represents the German metalcore act’s proper unveiling to the world, as well as its ethos of blending classic metalcore with modern technique and black metal influences.  It’s an ambitious thing, to take a formula much beloved (by me, at least) and turn it on its head, but it seems on paper like it should be a winning match.

There was a time in my life where metalcore was like breath in my lungs.  I mean, we all were in high school once, but that was my obsession for a good long chunk of my life.  When I saw As You Left on our promo planner, I knew I had to take a moment to indulge myself, and I have to say, the metalcore part here is tickling all the spots that I need it to.  It is as advertised, blending modern metalcore with the classic aesthetics that define the genre, all while bringing the attitude and aggression that you would want it to.  Who among us doesn’t instinctively windmill kick to the sound of a good breakdown?  Who among us doesn’t chant along to an anthemic chorus or bang our heads at a chunky riff?  All the things that should resonate in the soul of every skinny-jean-and-studded-belt wearing person are represented here, and represented well.  Not the least of which is the guitar pyrotechnics, which are abundant and zesty enough to keep my head on a swivel for most of this album.  Between the riffs, solos and melodic lines, I feel a nice, warming sense of nostalgia breaking through the icy chill of winter.

Now, while there is a lot to like about Silver Chains, I need to take a moment to address something that bothers me about this album: I would most assuredly not call this “blackened” anything.  I’ve listened to this album multiple times, and I can’t find more than a handful of individual moments that are even tangential to black metal.  There is the opening salvo of “Oblivion”, the outro section of “Laws of the Ancients”, and a riff or two on “Blades Turning” that come close, but beyond that, I’m left scratching my head about where all the black metal influences are hiding.  Just because there are blast beats in a couple of songs doesn’t make this “blackened” metalcore.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about what is there.  I am, though, complaining about what’s not.  I really truly wish there was a LOT more black metal to be found here, because I feel like a proper mix of black metal and metalcore would be really interesting and has the ability to bring a fresh sound to two genres that have the potential to get really stale really fast.  At the end of the day, Silver Chains feels like it’s missing something, and it’s the thing that was explicitly promised to me.  

Still, what I got in the end was a good metalcore release for sure, and that’s not for nothing.  The breakdowns are chunky, the riffs are tasty, and there are enough hooks to make As You Left break away from the pack of their more generic peers.  If they really want to stand out and blaze a new trail though, then I beseech them to lean way harder into the black metal on their next album.  And don’t let ten more years go by before a sophomore release, because black metal with breakdowns was basically what high school Ian daydreamed about every day in math class.

-Ian

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Silver Chains Golden Veins is out now, and you can listen over on Spotify.  For more information on As You Left, visit their Facebook page.