This is one of those albums I was meant to review months ago, but it got lost into the pile of non-metal CDs that have been sent to AM towers for reviewing. Well, I'm writing it now, so better late than never, I presume. Anyways, according to timeline printed on the booklet, I still would have had about 15 billion years to write this review.

'Timeline: The Beginning and End of Everything' is the fifth full-length album in 19 year history of this Maryland based band. It is a conceptual album about what its title says. The lyrics are very scientific yet they hold so many questions and philosophical ponderings. I'm quite a massive a science and science fiction buff, so the lyrical theme really got me drooling. Then, the cover artwork. Various spatial images are included, and while not the most beautiful in their category, I was drooling even more. Then it was time to insert the CD.

My first impression was, that this is some bloody fast and blasting death metal. I was kind of disappointed, as the lyrical topics would have allowed all kinds of tricky songs. Then again, in my opinion it's usually better to have a more unified album, music-wise, than a widely spread, out of control sonic vomit. A big part of this album is fast. Nimble-fingered mastermind Ron Vento (also vocals) offers some extremely shredding guitar playing. Sharp guitar tone multiplies the feeling of this. There are heavy and aggressive death metal riffs, somewhat tighter thrashing, and open-stringed, more discordant black metal style playing. Fantastic lead guitar work sometimes remind of Death's Chuck Schuldiner (just take a listen to 'Tearing Holes in the Fabric of Time'). So, actually this is far from one-dimensional stuff! Some times the song structures can be simplistic, like on 'Crucible of Creation' for example, or then they can be technical and warped, e.g. on 'The Evolution after Evolution'. Brawling, barked growled vocals are raspy and throat-lacerating, sounding like a mixture of Jeff Walker of Carcass and Children Of Bodom's Alexi Laiho.

Drummer Mark Green has tendency to play very fast. A lot of blast beat is heard throughout the album together with double kick drumming. It really gave me an impression of quite single-track album at first. The main reason to this is the production, where the drums, especially kick drums, are very loud in the mix. Thankfully the there's more to the drumming, as slower, more progressive beats are utilized here and there. To this guy the drums aren't for hitting, but for "painting", no matter how much fast beats there are. Sadly, the bass playing of Jason Ian-Vaughn Eckert does not get the role it deserves. The loudness of the kick drums cloud the bass playing pretty badly.

All in all, the songs can be very, very catchy, or then they can be very, very characteristic. Whatever the case is, Aurora Borealis sound themselves. This is a considerable achievement, considering that death metal was born in 1980s. The album proved to be a much wider journey through the time as it seemed at first glance. 44+ minutes of this is enough, because if it was longer, it would have lost its grip. The slightly flawed production is about the sole flaw about this album.

'Timeline: The Beginning and End of Everything' is one of the better death metal albums I've heard. Not only in this decade, but during all the years of death metal. It is an embodiment of aggressiveness, catchiness and pure entertainment. And all things space and time, of course. This will leave a noticeable mark in the history of death metal, especially when the band are capable to sound so individual. What an interesting band. This will tear your universe apart and show a new one!

Rating: 8½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/21/2013 19:28