Fragmentary Evidence

在NB旗下的一支优秀的加拿大前卫死亡团体，成立于2001年，目前有两张全长。乐队04年发的首作获得了极高评价，五年后推出第二作，同样非常精彩。在他们的作品中你能够感觉到技术与意识非常有效地结合到一块，编曲充满灵气，旋律优美飘逸，到了该情绪爆发的时候也毫不含糊，完全能够拿出足够的狠劲，blast强度不输给残死，动静反差明显，很是震撼。

by Phil Freeman

Devoted death metal fans have long known Quebec as a bubbling cauldron of awesome progressive death metal bands. Starting with Voivod and Gorguts in the late '80s and early '90s, and really booming during the latter decade and the 2000s with Cryptopsy, Neuraxis, Unexpect, Martyr, Beneath the Massacre, et al., the region has produced a staggering number of bands of this type. Well, add Augury to that impressive roster. These guys (formerly guys and girl, though vocalist Arianne Fleury departed between 2004's Concealed and this release) make up one of the most astonishing prog-death bands on the planet, and Fragmentary Evidence is one of the best metal albums of 2009. The songs have an epic sweep, with brilliant instrumental performances from all, particularly the guitarist and bassist, the latter of whom is placed quite prominently in the mix, popping the strings (don't worry, we're talking Stanley Clarke, not the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and acting as a co-lead voice. Speaking of multiple voices, there are guest vocalists all over this thing, including members of Aborted, Unexpect, and Cryptopsy, among others. The compositions -- a far better word than "songs," in this case -- shift frequently from mechanistic brutality to spacy psychedelic fusion and melodic interludes, as reminiscent of Opeth as of harder-edged tech bands like Obscura and Neuraxis. But Fragmentary Evidence is never a mere showcase for instrumental chops. The music remains compelling throughout. A must for any fan of progressive/technical metal.