Semper Acerbus is kicking off its tenth anniversary in style.
Formed in late 2016 in Texas, the band led by Nelson Acerbus (vocals), Jaime Vargas (guitar), Joe Dragich (guitar), Sammy Farhat (bass), and Tyler Thomas (drums) has signed with Eclipse Records for the release of its album Following Omens.
Suffering Awaits gives us a few seconds to prepare ourselves before launching into a fast-paced, modern mix over which the vocalist lets rip, though he does hold back on the shorter, more solemn passages. We note the lively Old School approach, which lends itself perfectly to crowd movements during live performances, but also the few breaks, such as the one preceding Unwanted, with its haunting melodies that soften the energetic riffs, coupled with clear vocals that make the choruses more ethereal. However, the track is quite short, quickly offering a break before returning to its cruising speed, then One Day At A Time follows suit and reveals its own contrast between crystalline keyboards and bursts of controlled violence that will once again incite their crowds to go wild while the musicians line up their riffs. We move on to The Gallows, which adopts more modern touches that are sometimes quite simple but devilishly effective, infused with a rather dark and threatening aura, but the mosh part will still make us bang our heads before giving us a moment of respite on Alluring Vendetta. The trap touches only last a minute, and Archangel comes in to energize the atmosphere by returning to the jerky riffs characteristic of the style, which rage at a steady pace, then we move on to Wounded, which slows down the pace on its intro but picks up speed again afterwards, even leaning towards slightly more Prog and technical influences. The vocals are also much more diverse, while still predominantly screamed, then Torn Inside returns to the fray with blasts and frenetic riffs, but we notice that the song doesn’t shy away from slowing down, even creating a soothing break with a clear sound before launching into a soaring solo and then picking up the pace again, then District Coward brings the album to a close with syncopated rhythms but much more hazy and intoxicating leads, delivering a pleasant and open ending.
Semper Acerbus’ secret lies in the contrast between its jerky rhythms and much more polished leads. Following Omens doesn’t revolutionize Metalcore, but it offers the band well-crafted riffs to secure its place in the modern local scene.
70/100