After seeing the cool artwork and hitting play on Bandcamp, Recode the Subliminal’s The Cost of Every Man initially had this writer searching the Internet to see if Bjorn Strid (Soilwork) had made some contributions to this one as some of the screams really matched up with said vocalist’s range. Turns out no, but what is does end up as a talking point is how the band hails from Central Europe but vocalist Ryan Strain is from the USA.
Landing firmly into the melodic death metal framework, The Cost of Every Man plays into familiar structures but fully embraces them with the charisma necessary to make it a fun and pleasurable experience. Certainly Soilwork and Scar Symmetry influences run amok, providing Strain ample time to switch between harsh screams and well-done clean vocals through this 56-minute affair. There’s some heavy segments that feature some standout thrashy riffing, as heard in “Supremacy,” but the more surprising move occurs with the more melodic segments. “At the End” has a strong feel of Mutiny Within, focusing on melodic vocals and more rock-ish vibes – a nice counter to the more aggressive side of the band, and Strain has the vocals to make it work. The album’s most epic track, “Hope is Lost,” serves to be quite a treat as well, using synths to bring out plenty of atmosphere, with a moving and quiet introduction that builds into a heavier climax over the course of 8 and a half minutes, all while keeping things thoroughly engrossing.
While Recode the Subliminal mostly stick to what works within the genre, they do it with plenty of energy and finesse. Compelling songwriting keeps the album afloat from beginning to end and serves as a solid base on which future recordings can take into new directions. A lot of potential – well worth checking out if you remotely enjoy any of the bands mentioned within.