Posted on: June 7, 2009 Posted by: anfnewsacct Comments: 0

I guess I do not understand the theme behind titling the songs in the way they do on “Ruder Forms Survive”. Each of the seven tracks has a date and then a title; I understand some of the dates’ significances, but am not sure about all of them (1946 instead of 1945)? However, the tracks all have a lot to do with each other, and these ties are made even more noticeable with the fact that Capricorns’ compositions are largely instrumental on “Ruder Forms Survive”.

The very interesting thing about “Ruder Forms Survive” is the fact that the compositions all flow into each other so well that the disc’s nearly fifty minute runtime feels as if it is half of that. The disc should really just be one solid composition, as dividing the tracks into different movements does not necessarily seem fitting. In the middle of “1969: A Predator Among Us”, Capricorns change up the style of music that they play from something m ore heavy to something more plodding and slow. When the vocals kick into high gear for “The First Broken Promise”, it is not in the typical sense. The vocals are much more in the instrumental format of things than anything. The fury in which the band creates “The First Broken Promise” is at a level that is not reached anywhere else on “Ruder Forms Survive”.

This track is also the nearest thing that Capricorns get to creating a song that could have a second life on a rock or metal radio station. “1066: Born On The Bayeux” is the perfect example of a full composition by Capricorns. The song starts out slow and plodding, but throughout the track’s twelve-minute runtime, the band is able to explore all facets of this track. Capricorns are one of the few bands out on the market today that are able to succeed in a nearly-instrumental format. There are enough in the way of death metal bands that try to go to the well much too often and the results are of very poor quality. The band has came out of pretty much nowhere, and comes to the table with “Ruder Forms Survive”. Here’s to hoping that they continue to innovate the style of metal that they first commit to disc with “1977: Blood For Papa”. There is little more that Capricorns can do to make further discs any more solid; keep on doing what you do best, band.

Top Track: 1977: Blood For Papa

Rating: 6.8/10

[JMcQ]

Capricorns – Ruder Forms Survive / 2006 Candlelight / 7 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/capricornsoflondon / http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com / Reviewed 21 July 2006

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