Album Review: Anisoptera – Spawn of Odonata (Self Released)

“Float like a dragonfly, sting like a bee.” That’s probably how Anisoptera prefer to think of the legendary Ali quote, as they explore the wonders of this carnivorous insect on their debut full-length through the medium of progressive death metal. Spawn of Odonata lands straight in the middle of the Californian hotbed of metal in the Bay Area, fully formed and fighting fit.

Spawn of Odonata releases on 14th September 2018.

With a level of forcefulness that sees any obstacle put in the way broken through, Anisoptera deliver a death metal experience that is fuelled with an incredible level of progressiveness and technical noise. While they can absolutely wreck the senses with feral heaviness led by the numbing vocals, they also show an impressive range as the tracks like Rebirth and Cursed show of complex changes in rhythm.

Showing a proficiency and confidence that betrays the fact that this is their debut release, Spawn of Odonata takes few mis-steps. The only one that instantly comes to mind is something that isn’t really the bands fault and that is the reality that the death metal market is pretty saturated. You need to do something really special to rise out the murky depths.

Anisoptera go for it though. Clawing and scratching their way up towards the surface weighted down only by the odd forgettable track such as Aerial Predator. There can be few complaints though about Sporadic Cycle, a raging track built around a thumping drum beat and the intensity of Sterilization’s riffs. This is chaos but refined.

Why though, Anisoptera end the album with a 4+ minute acoustic jam is puzzling though. It’s not very good and sounds like it was recorded on a tape deck. A puzzling end to a very good progressive death metal debut.

Anisoptera – Spawn of Odonata Full Track Listing:

1. Parasite
2. Rebirth
3. Cursed
4. Aerial Predator
5. Sporadic Cycle
6. Ammonite
7. Sterilization
8. Heterochromia Iridis

You can pick up the band’s music and merchandise over on Big Cartel. Find out more/keep up to date by checking out Anisoptera’s Facebook Page.