UMUR "Dreaming Reality" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US progressive/thrash metal act Antithesis. The album was independently released in June 2010. It´s been quite a few years since "Dying for Life (2001)" was released but the recording of "Dreaming Reality" actually already began in 2004. It wasn´t until late 2009 that the recording process was finished though. In the meantime two of the members who recorded "Dying for Life (2001)" had also been replaced. Matt Adkins had taken over the vocal duties from Ty Cook and Brian Glodde had replaced James Lewis on bass.

The music style is still the same as on the last album though. We´re treated to progressive US power/thrash metal played by greatly skilled musicians. The technical level of playing is very, very high. New lead vocalist Matt Adkins has a strong voice and a convincing delivery. He sings slightly more than his predecessor, who was slightly more raw sounding, but Matt Adkins can also sing harsher type vocals when that is called for. The instrumental part of the music is busy and technically quite challenging, which is pleasure to listen to if you´re a fan of acts like Charred Walls of the Damned and Control Denied. Just add a more progressive edge to the style of music that those two acts play and you´re half way there. Technical thrashy riffing, tempo- and time signature changes and just a generally powerful delivery.

"Dreaming Reality" is not only well composed and well played, it´s also well produced and overall it´s a high quality release. If I have to point out a minor issue it would be that the melody lines aren´t always that memorable and that the vocals themselves can be a bit hard to listen to over the course of a full album. And don´t get me wrong here because as I mentioned above Matt Adkins is a very skilled vocalist with a strong voice, but it´s like he delivers at full volume all the way through the album and I miss a bit more dynamic in the vocal delivery. With this minor complaint out of the way "Dreaming Reality" is still a great release by Antithesis and a 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.

UMUR "Dying for Life" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US thrash/power/progressive metal act Antithesis. The album was originally released through Nightmare Records in the US in 2001. Massacre Records picked the album up for a European Release. The Massacre Records version features a different cover artwork and an alternate tracklisting. The track "Secret Fires" which is credited as a bonus track actually did appear on the US version albeit as a hidden track after the "Netherworld" track. On the European version "Secret Fires" is a seperate individual track.

The music on the album is a combination of thrash, power, and progressive metal. Great edgy and technically well played thrashy riffing, raw US power metal type vocals and occasional progressive metal elements (tempo- and time signature changes and unconventional song structures). Acts like Charred Walls of the Damned and Control Denied come to mind although I´d call Antithesis slightly more progressive than those two acts. mid- to late nineties Fates Warning comes to mind when Antithesis are most progressive.

The tracks are relatively long with only three out of nine tracks being under 6 minutes long. The band are however fully capable of filling out those long tracks with intriguing playing and adventurous ideas enough for them never to lose the listener´s attention. While the band certainly play music with progressive details, they are a metal act above all else, which means that they favor power, raw riffing, and harsh vocals above polished progressive playing. There are some killer guitar riffs on the album as well as some wicked rythmic playing and some very well sung vocals. It´s safe to say that "Dying for Life" is a quality album through and through which is only further emphasized by the powerful and well sounding production.

"Dying for Life" is one of those albums that seamlessly combine raw power and sophisticated playing in the most natural way. It never sounds forced or awkward and you always have the feeling that the members of the band play just what they always wanted to play. A very positive listening experience and a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

Time Signature Mad metal poet...

Genre: progressive power thrash metal

Stuff as many technical riffs as you can into one song, add odd time signatures and frenzied drumming and have acrobatic vocals soar on top, and - viola - you have the type of music that Antithesis deliver on this album.

We are dealing with progressive metal here which draws on technical thrash metal and has a US power metal sensibility to is as well (which means - no cheese!). The riffage ranges from quasi-technical to veeeery technical, and each song contains numerous riffs and many changes in time and tempo, and thus the level of compositional complexity is very high. I mean, I already gave up keeping track of the riffs in the first track "Consequence" and when the second track "Soul of Ice" was over I thought I'd listened to five tracks and not just two (and both tracks are only around five minutes each).

Some tracks, like the two above-mentioned ones are more aggressive, while others like "Times of Trial", "Deceiver Within", and "Distanced" are slower, but no less complex -having complex structures and containing mind-boggling odd metered sections.

This is a really good progressive metal album of the more hard edged type without being extreme metal, and the many changes and riffs make for an interesting, but actually not too challenging, listen. Recommended to fans of the likes of Watchtower, Control Denied, Unleashed Power.

Pelata Oh yeah! Classic melodic, technical thrash lives! Ohio’s Antithesis plays a blistering brand of classic metal akin to Helstar, Sanctuary and even old Realm and Toxik. They blend choppy, thrash-like riffs, excellent guitar harmonies and lead work, tight, technical drumming and clean, yet edgy vocals into a hard hitting record that is both fresh and familiar all at once.

I really like the music on this disc, as it is reminiscent of some of my favorite bands from back in the day. I think what makes it fresh sounding now, besides the skill and conviction with which the band plays, is that hardly anyone is doing this style now. I mean, Destiny’s End is, but their directly descendent of Helstar. Antithesis are not Gothenberg influenced, not attempting to incorporate “nu metal” groove into their sound, and not trying to water down their sound for the masses. These days, they would, and do, fall under the ever-growing prog metal umbrella.

Opening cut “Soul Of Ice” starts with a great harmonized riff and strong melody. There is plenty of double kick-drum work, technical transitions and strong riffing throughout to really get your fists pumping. Vocalist Ty Cook has a strong mid-range voice with a good sense of melody and enough edge to fit right in with the music. He never relies on high screams or tries to go beyond his range. Rather, he delivers the songs with power and believability. "Distanced” begins with a tight, melodic bass and drum riff before the precision guitars come in. The melody theme is sort of old Queensryche-ish with its bass fills. The extended prog intro showcases the band’s excellent musicianship nicely. The acoustic guitar intro on “Deceiver Within” is outstanding. When the bass and drums come in, they carry the melody while the guitars add some ambient harmonics. Cook’s vocal prowess is really displayed on the intro as well. He has a smooth, clear delivery on the slow parts. When the song kicks in, the harmonized riffs are quite tasty! The epic title track, at over nine minutes, is a musical journey that needs to be taken. It goes from clean guitar melodies, to full on technical metal madness and is literally bursting with dynamics!

This is truly a refreshing metal disc. Antithesis have managed to stay true to their roots and put out a high quality metal release that doesn’t bow to current fashion. Dying For Life should be in every metal fan’s collection.