Human Desolation-Mind Grind Paradigm

Human Desolation is another band from Sweden and they can be added to the melodic death genre. The CD Mind Grind Paradigm starts off pretty powerful with acoustic guitar overdubs and atmospheric background with a lifeline signal and a heartbeat that fades. This leads into the "Afterlife" and I love the vocal continuation on the chorus parts. It blends the atmosphere that was established in the beginning of the CD.

The instruments are a good blend and compliment one another. The duel guitars are a nice change of pace from other bands with their rule solos and melodic synchronous and at times opposite riffs. The introduction of acoustic guitars measures and track selection made this an interesting and pleasant listening experience. The "Mind Grind Paradigm" needs to be listened from start to finish in the order that Human Desolation has laid out.

The drumming is a perfect blend of double bass and fills and offbeats to keep the listener interested. However, the bass drum is very low and overall drums could be a little higher (bass drum, cymbals and definitely the ride). Yet, I will not let low volume degrade their attempt at a melodic style in the vein of At the Gates, In Thy Dreams, Gates of Ishtar, Eucharist, Dark Tranquility, In Flames, A Cantorous Quartet, Dimension Zero and others. And this ole style is never more noticed than in "Madworld". If you crave that old style and wonder if anyone out there was capable of recreating that old melodic death style, then Human Desolation did it. However, I have seen this before, where a band comes up and then they just fade Remember Imperanon? They were great and then they faded into oblivion joining other bands.

The Track "Desolation" was a masterpiece of melody and the best part that is was not overdone. It was minimalistic and short. Then when "Fear and Loathing" kicks in it really makes you want to hear the whole song and is reminiscent of old In Flames. Even the parts are exactly of what old In Flames would have done. The solo parts are well executed and not over done. In other words the music all goes together not like the 80's classic solos where every song HAD to have a solo.

Human Desolation is a band that needs a following and these guys can be big. "Hybrid Haven" is a song that demands you dance, well not really dance, you know metal style, in the pit. The Duel guitars are refreshing blend of In Flames and A Cantorous Quartet.

Human Desolation is a tight band. They border to the point on technical death with mostly melodic influences, and no I am not try ing to create another stupid sub genre. When you listen to "I Am Evil" this is similar to the technical metal days of Meshuggah (remember those guys). Again when you listen to "I Am Evil" if you listen really carefully you can hear all of these little drum trills and splash cymbals which is such a pleasure to hear on melodic metal. But this song was kind of long and it gets boring, so these guys are not a 5. But then they redeem themselves with "Frostbite" and man it really comes at a good point in the CD.

In all fairness this is more creative and interesting than the new At the Gates CD. Mind Grind Paradigm is a better CD than that one and I really recommend Human Desolation. But I fear that these guys will probably not stay together for more than one more CD so really see them if you get the chance and definitely get this CD. If you are bored with this CD then really just get out of the metal community. Towards the end the songs sort of change into a Dimension Zero style of stop go action (when you listen to "Flow" you will get what I mean), but nonetheless an excellent from start to finish. I give these guys a 4 out of 5 guitar picks.

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