### Augury: Concealed

#### 03/08/11 || Manticore

It may surprise some to learn that this album, despite currently being advertised in some of the recent metal mags, was actually initially released in 2004. I can only assume that nobody paid any fuckin’ attention back then, or they only had enough money to press 5 copies or something, because it’s recently been re-released and is doing the rounds again.

I was one of those lucky few who evidently blew his hard-earned cash on this album way back then. Quick story…about seven years ago, I wandered down to some shitty hole-in-the-wall club in Vancouver’s East End to check out a metal show on a Friday night, and these crazy-ass Quebécois were the opening act. After a couple of songs, I actually put down my pool cue (but not my beer, of course) and started paying attention to some people who seemed to be seriously awesome musicians. On the strength of that, I tossed down my money for this album “Concealed” by this band called Augury. After the show (and I can’t even remember what the main act’s set was like, because Augury wiped the stage with them), I picked my way through the downtown debris of crack whores, transvestites, addicts, and dealers back home to check the album out.

Okay, okay, I went home, threw up, and passed out (not necessarily in that order). Luckily I had this album with which to remind me of all the poor decisions I’d made that evening. Was it worth it? Does your sister lick my anus nightly? For a debut album from a totally unknown group, fuckin-A rights it was worth it.

There are two problems I’ve always had with buying albums from bands I don’t know based on a live performance that I just saw. One, my judgement has likely been affected by some sort of mind-altering substance. Two, bands can sound amazing live, and on CD it doesn’t even sound like the same group. Not so with Augury. The production on the album is excellent, and all of the instruments and voices come through crystal-clear. Okay, great, you say, but I don’t give a shit about production, you dumb-ass cunt. What about the music?

Well, to give you a bit of a reference as to where this band is coming from…in a nutshell, tech-y death-y stuff (think Obscura through Death’s “The Sound of Perseverance”, with some operatic female vocals tossed into the mix). The guitars are pretty clean…nothing too gritty going on here…so it doesn’t swamp out the other instruments (I’m thinking specifically of bass, which often ends up being a bit of an afterthought on metal albums, but actually plays a part on this slab). The chops are very evident throughout, but what the fuck good is that without some decent songs? Good question, Manticore, you fucking evil genius, and so I’ll answer in kind. Augury doesn’t fall into the trap that many tech metal bands hit, and that trap is jam as many riffs and ideas into as short a time span as humanly possible, and play it at warp 87. They actually attempt something approaching cohesive song ideas and riffs that don’t simply change every 10 seconds for the sake of change. The problem is that none of it really gets my juices flowing, and I remember most of it about as long as I remember who it was that last made me nut off (i.e. about thirty seconds, then there’s the car door, bitch). There are some excellent moments (the outro to “Nocebo”, certain parts of “Alien Shores”, “Becoming God”), but there are some not-so-excellent moments as well (the operatic vocals are about as pleasant as dragging my scrotum across a cheese grater). I’m not saying that the double-X-chromosome vocals are a problem, but unless you’re Carl-fucking-Orff, leave the opera to the professionals, please.

Despite those shortcomings, though, this is a pretty decent effort for a debut album, especially considering that this sort of thing wasn’t so prevalent back when this band actually released this recording the first time. Recommended for fans of Obscura and their ilk. If you can’t stand that sort of thing, avoid like it was your syphilitic genitalia. Otherwise, pick up and enjoy.

- Information
- Released: 2004
- Label: Galy Records
- Website: www.augurymetal.com
- Band
- Patrick Loisel: vocals, lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars
- Mathieu Marcotte: lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars
- Dominic “Forest” Lapointe: 6 string bass guitar
- Arianne Fleury: choir and soprano voices
- Etienne Gallo: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Beatus
- 02. …ever Know Peace Again
- 03. Cosmic Migration
- 04. Nocebo
- 05. Alien Shores
- 06. In Russian Dolls Universes
- 07. Becoming God
- 08. The Lair of Purity
- 09. From Eden Estranged…
- 10. …as Sea Devours Land