Fate - Vultures
Released: April 29th, 2008
Label: Metal Blade
Band Website:www.myspace.com/fate

Review by Nathan Dufour

Fate are a young band, not just in terms of their date of inception but also in terms of their physical age. The band formed in autumn of 2003, while the members were still in middle school. Fast forward to 2008, and with an average age of about 20, it is clear that these lads from sunny places in California were definitely bringing the mosh in the great vas deferens of metallic heft.

Born in the thrall of the deathcore revolution, Fate take their cues from label mates Animosity first and foremost, melding brutal breakdowns with equally impressive instrumental dexterity. Speed is the order of the day, blastbeats are the chosen desert and random guitar noodling rounds out the core of the meal, expressing a love for all things obtuse and grinding. The problem is, though, that the style is somewhat predictable. However that is a minor gripe as the same can be said for any genre, albeit that deathcore is rapidly following metalcore to the grave; too many bands are doing this. It will take bands like Fate, Animosity, Carnifex, and Annotations of An Autopsy to elevate the genre into something really special and formidable. Fate are certainly capable of flying the flag for all to see, and it will be very interesting to watch them develop beyond the trappings of an oversaturated genre. They have the skills to pay the bills, and with repeated listens and more seasoning via touring and whatnot, look for these boys to gross huge dividends in the not too distant future. Fate are the vultures that will pick the deathcore corpse clean and then build whole new machine in their own image. The groundwork is laid and shored up with huge potential, so sit back and watch them come into their own.

Visit Fate's official website: www.myspace.com/fate