Dawn of Ashes - Farewell To The Flesh

Well 2 years certainly do go quick and it seems that the newly evolved 'Metal' Dawn of Ashes is ready to follow up to 2010's 'Genocide Chapters' in the form of the EP 'Farewell To The Flesh'.

Consisting of 3 original tracks and remixes from the Genocide Chapters album. Some fans will see this as the return of some the 'old' Dawn of Ashes sound as they've brought back some of the industrial elements such as synths and programmed drums which were both absent from the Genocide Chapters release.

Kicking off this EP is the title track "Farewell To The Flesh" and right from the start of this track all hell breaks loose with its jack hammering, kick drums and machine gun like guitars in syncopation, which has always been a trademark of industrial metal.
Also within the mix are the symphonic choirs that were present in Genocide Chapters but also an electronic kick drum which gives a marching beat to Volkar Kaels riffs. As the song progresses Kristof Bathorys screams come into the mix sometimes through processed or glitched vocal splices that sound like demonic laughs.

As the track winds down to the break down and the end of the song the choirs and synths then have there break and shine through the mix while marching snare drums begin to play signifying the end of the song.

Now the remix portion of the EP begins - first off with front man Kristof Bathorys remix of "Transformation Within Fictional Mutation" which is a down tempoed industrial remix with glitched guitars and vocals which slowly builds up through its 6 minute duration to a finale with a punchy electronic kick drum and noisy distorted snare drums over guitars that give a real spin on the original version.

After the K. Bathory mix comes "Carnal Consumation in the Empty Space" remixed by dark drum and bass act "Falling Skies" though not at full drum and bass tempo, they still manage to keep a solid pace with the typical bass line - drum and bass is known for with the use of wobble giving it a dubstep vibe but the guitars both clean and distorted still very present. Falling Skies are a very new act but with remixes like this are very promising and I look forward to hearing their original material in the future.

Next we'll step in to familiar territory for listeners with DOA's former label mates Die Sektor and their remix of "Carnal Consummation In The Empty Space". This to me is the highlight remix and really does showcase how great Die Sektor are as remixers. It starts at a slow tempo and builds up showing the use of breakbeats within the music The chorus parts revert back to the dark electro side of Die Sektor that many know and love. Overall a great remix that is bound to pull in listeners and remix fans alike.

And now for the 3rd and final mix of "Carnal Consummation In The Empty Space" remixed by powernoise / dark ambient act "To Mega Therion" and it's another strong remix with thick analog synths and percussion.

Finally to the last remix is a Dubstep remix by "The Juggernaut" who remix "Seething The Flesh In The River Of Phelegethon" that apart from the vocal track sounds nothing like the original at all! Drums, keyboards bass and guitars are stripped from the track and just K.Bathorys vocals are left for what could be a whole new track. I find this remix to be a little misleading with so much of the track missing and not hint of a chord or note progression from the song itself it may throw listeners off for being TOO different and distant from the original track but that's not to say it's a bad remix.

Now the remix section is over we go back in time almost but with a twist with the track "Torture Device part 2", which is an industrial black metal version of "The Crypt Injection" single. This remake shows the progression DOA has taken - the song builds with palm muted guitars electronic kick drums and eventually building up to blast beats while K.Bathory starts screaming the such well known lyrics among DOA fans. What is great about this remake is it gives a continuity and isn't just another re-recording yet still manages to keep elements of the original; some of the original synth patches and melodies of the song but still making sure it's a continuation.

To close the EP there is a short soundscape track "Bloodshed with the 3rd Eye" - A collage of sounds. As a closer, I'm not sure what the point of this track is but it feels like needless filler for the end of the EP. However if it's part of something to come then I like the idea of the suspense it gives.

To finish the review this is a great EP however the lack of new or original material and multiple remixes of the same track may put some fans off buying it. It still shows a strong sense of what to expect from Dawn of Ashes in the future and a great welcome return of the more well known industrial side to the band. I am going to this EP 8 out of 10 as I find multiple remixes of the same tracks and very little fresh material to be a down point of this EP but it's still a strong release with a strong sense of progression and direction. May 26 2012