Band: Achilles Last Stand
CD Title: The Dead Soil
Year: 2008
Website: myspace.com/achilleslaststand1
MySpace: myspace.com/achilleslaststand1
Label: Dead Vibrations Industry
Featured on: Burning Misery
Rating: 8 / 10
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Ok, let's get one thing straight – Achilles Last Stand are nothing to do with Led Zeppelin. Led Zepp may have had a song with that title, but I think that's where the similarity ends. Achilles Last Stand are, in fact, a Hardcore / Metal band from Sweden.

I have to admit that I'm not really into Hardcore... and I also have to admit that most of it, in my humble opinion, is rather dire (with the exception of a few bands who I do actually like – funnily enough, many of whom are on MySpace). It takes a lot to get me to listen to a hardcore album in full, but since I was required to review this album I knew that I had to put aside my prejudices and just give it a go.

"The Dead Soil" has really opened my eyes to how good this genre can be. In the past I've heard one or two good songs here and there, but I've never really taken the plunge and bought a band's entire back-catalogue... or, in some cases, even just an album. If I hadn't been required to review this album, I fear that Achilles Last Stand would have slipped below my radar completely and this would have been an incredible shame because I really enjoyed what I've heard on "The Dead Soil". While it may never find it's way into my "Top 100 Greatest Albums of All Time... Ever!" list, I do think that it will be an album that I find myself listening to again and again. It has a certain quality about it that makes me want to keep listening to it.

The album kicks off with "The Burden". This track is completely in your face and gives you the impression that Achilles Last Stand know exactly what they’re doing... and they’re going to make your face melt while they do it. I'm not sure about the history of the band, but they seem incredibly confident and they definitely seem to have their own identity. "The Burden" is short and to the point... much like a gunshot. "Bullshit Parade" is a track that's bursting with energy and angst... and the title pretty much sums up the way I feel about my 'real job' at the moment. "Nar Snaran Dras At" is a superb wall of sound. It almost sounds like, if it wasn't somehow restrained to the 1 minute that it goes on for, it could crack your skull. The title of "Rest In Piss" made me giggle like a naughty school child. I found the song itself was quite surprising and the variation in tempo was a great touch. This is one of my favourite tracks from the album.

If the rhythm in "Pointless" doesn’t make you feel alive then I'm pretty sure nothing will. If that is the case, and you’re reading this now, I shall assume that you are a zombie. In contrary to its title, "The Weak Pulse" is by no means weak – in fact, it's strong enough to rock you to your foundations. "Weeds" is one of those tracks that I just want to bang my head to. Do you bang your head to hardcore? Who knows? I certainly do.

Again, it's the rhythm that really makes "Final Solution" stand out. At times it almost feels like the music is making my pulse speed up. While "The Dead Soil" is a pretty good track, I don't think I would have chosen to name the album after it. Personally, I feel that there are a number of better tracks on the album ("Rest In Piss", "The Burden", "Weeds", "Pointless", etc). "The Broken Bonds" raises the quality again and gives the listener more of what they have come to expect from Achilles Last Stand.

Musically "The Bastard Monument" isn’t quite as in your face as "The Burden", but it definitely still has that element to it. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t warm to the album’s closer – "Buried". All of it’s components (the piano, the eerie atmosphere, the changes in tempo) all seem great in theory (and individually), but for some reason it doesn’t quite gel together all that well. I'm sure there are loads of fans out there who will disagree with me, but – hey – that’s my opinion.

After having listened to this album a number times now, I feel that I can quite happily class myself as a fan.