Fall Of The Leafe's (FotL from now on) sold out debut 'Evanescent, Everfading' (1998) is good enough darkened and deathy heavy metal experience, even though lacking of something. I quess originality. 'August Wernicke' was released by the small Argentinean label Icarus and therefore this album might lack for the distribution it deserves. I read about the band on Ancient Ceremonies 'zine and they also praised this album on their review. Noticing a Finnish band on Portuguese zine and they got their album released by Argentineans. This is how it goes sometimes.

'August Wernicke' has a story going through it, but I haven't cracked the puzzle yet. There is some text printed, but they are just cryptic clues and not much what's sung. I think the band have said this tells a tale of an ordinary loser. But the music is the thing, right? Right. FotL's branch of melodic death metal is fairly individual by any standard. The band evolved a lot from their early days. Finnish-sounding melancholic yet brave melodies had multiplied here when comparing to the debut. The melodies are quite Amorphis-esque, circa 'Tales from the Thousand Lakes' (1994), but in FotL's case they lean towards more modern than folky style, even though folky material is present. Distorted guitars are mixed quite high for a huge part of the album, but surely here's a lot of heavy riffing. Great twin guitar leads and such are manna for my ears, as are screaming guitars. Guitar duo jumps from acoustics to heavy riffing and wonderful leads all the time. Pace varies from mid-paced atmospherics to blast beat frenzy, mainly sticking somewhere between these two. Ethereal synths are clearly on the background, I actually don't always even notice them playing... Drums and bass are well performed and provide the needed punch when guitars are wandering high skies.

Everything heard here has a slight feeling of distance, melancholic and majesty. Maybe it is caused by an echo, which is present throughout the album. Sound is good and well balanced between the instruments. Vocals are even more distant and effects (other than reverb, too) are used, but not too much. More than one vocal track is not a rarity. Growled hoarse, tortuous vocals are the majority and some clean singing can also be heard. 'August Wernicke' could be heavier, but I still have no complaints.

'August Wernicke' is a clear improvement over the debut album. With last year's 'Fermina' the band went further down (not in bad meaning of the word, but actually quite refreshingly mixing goth and pop with metal) the gothic lane (not that pussy make-up goth shit metal). 'August Wernicke' is partly very good, partly a bit too similar for a record lasting over fifty minutes. Hell, musically this is so diverse, that I could recommend this to fans of Iron Maiden, Dark Tranquillity, Amorphis and such groups. I, however, do not know anything and leave the decision for you all. Every Fall Of The Leafe output is just a moment in time, but still, timeless, at least 'August Wernicke' is. Yes, it is hard to tell something about the album. Go listen to it, now. It might help.

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
07/25/2003 13:11