Album Review: Slice The Cake - Odyssey to the West (2016)

Slice The Cake.

A name I never associated with good music simply because of the childish sound to it.
What a failure I am for not getting over that fact and having a go at them earlier..

I don't actually remember how I came onto these guys, must've been a random YouTube suggestion.. however - Once I started listening to this Album, I just could not put it down. My headphones were stuck on my ears for the first three full-album marathons, aswell as my speakers afterwards.

It's been a few months since I've discovered the endless pleasure that STC provide, and I feel although they've been praised highly on multiple facebook groups.. They didn't get the exposure they deserved, and probably never will. - They disbanded whilst the Album was released.

But.. enough of that and onto the review!

• The Exile Part I - The Razor's Edge

A poetic opening for the emotional rollercoaster that is this Album.
Starting off with spoken words, following up with Clean singing and excellent musical undertones, never overshadowing, never boring, and delivering a pumping feeling.

• The Exile Part II - The City of Destruction

"Why won't you fly with me.." - The frustration that starts the madness, that is this Album. This is, already, a pretty fast and sometimes chaotic song, that defines the outbreak of frustration and rage in its first steps.. and ends in a long and frustrating scream and out-of-breath whispering..

• Stone and Silver Part I - The Mountains of Man

Don't get fooled by the calm intro to this absolute masterpiece. You'll find yourself bobbing your head up and down early on, wanting to sing along in an instant, if only one could. The mixture between Cleans and Growls, into Screams and back again.. is right on the dot for those not too familiar with the Deathmetal scene.
(Also, that starting melody can be found all over the place, without beeing too obvious, great work!)

• Stone and Silver Part II - The Horned God

To continue on the path that has been shown by the previous piece of art, this one dives right into fast, more aggressive and in comparison almost over-the-top rythms.. Then uses Spoken word as an introduction to Aggressive Vocals that make you feel the frustration the Character must go through. A short ride-along..

• Stone and Silver Part III - The Man of Papyrus Limbs

Another poetic Intro to the chaotic and frustrated mindset of the Character.. and right on the 1:05 minute mark, it just - TILTs - into deep growls, back into melodic singing.. up and down, interesting rythms accompanied by an almost classical approach to songstructure.

• Westward Bound Part I - The Lantern

Starting off accustic, bringing some calmness back into this, delivering some almost crying-styled Cleans with moderate grit usage, only occasionally dipping into Growls this one, is one continuus stream of melodics.. and halfway to the 'finish' line it goes into a full-on ballad, with another classical influenced melodic part.. and topping it off with some sing-along 'Westward.. bound' lyrics..

• Westward Bound Part II - The Pilgrim's Progress

The second part, arguably the more aggressive one, starting off just as the previous ended. Experimenting with the feeling of nothingness.. and.. That Breakdown. This, right here, is what I love about these guys - the extremes. Skipping the hyping up, or beeing aggressive all the time.. rather they find a way to make the change with it still beeing one song.

• Castle in the Sky Part II - Pieces of Ruins

The REAL ballad of the Album. Whilst the others only drip their toes in the melodic, and slow parts.. this one goes 'full out' love song. And.. this, after the last songs Breakdown. What a change-up.

• Unending Waltz

Pure poetry. Nothing more to add here, honestly.. that ringing in the background makes this a dreamy one. Enjoy :)

• Ash and Rust Part I - From Shell to Shell

Another.. "I've been here before.. I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE!" - Intro to another few great songs!

• Ash and Rust Part II - The Dark Carnival

Basically.. From Shell to Shell on drugs. Emotional Collapse, full aggression and frustration mode - active! - Also.. that madness in the middle part..

• Ash and Rust Part III - The Torn Thread

THAT INTRO. I'm in love with Bass, all over again, thanks to this.

• Ash and Rust Part IV - Nameless, Faceless

The resolution to this (Live surely) tiresome performance of skill. Basically all the tools used by parts I to III will be used in this one, for one hell of a messy construct.

• Destiny's Fool

Another Ballad, that has this iconic oriental ring to it. Great use of the harmony vocals. - This one, I cannot listen to without singing along randomly.

• The Holy Mountain

A fitting outro to the whole Album, a get-together of all elements used, and then some.. and what a fitting end to such a theatrical Album this is, purposefully not a Song with a simple ending.. but a fading melodie and rythm, as if this whole charade will forever continue and repeat itself.
And there you have it, folks.

Listen, buy it, get the lyrics and sing along:

https://slicethecake.bandcamp.com/album/odyssey-to-the-west

Basically.. this is the motherload of Melodic Death Metal, with heavy DeathCore influence aswell as the theatrical feeling.

Thanks for reading,

HearthCore