I’ve had this in my drafts since 2019, and six years later, it’s more true than ever. Adestria is one of my favorite bands that never made it big. I’ve been listening to their 2012 album ‘Chapters’ so much recently, and it kills me that they didn’t blow up.
In some ways, I think Adestria was too far ahead of its time. Their vocalist had a range that very few metalcore bands have ever matched and people just weren’t ready for the higher-pitched default screams. It’s not quite on the same level as Texas In July’s early releases, but it’s definitely a unique sound. He wasn’t boxed in by his abilities, and every line was purposefully screamed to build the songs a certain way. He also did all of the singing, making him an especially versatile and dynamic frontman.
Adestria stood out from other metalcore bands of the early 2010s because they weren’t a standard down-tuned, chug band. They played relatively fast and saved the drop tuning and low screams for the breakdowns. It’s not a coincidence that I’m writing this review after the 20th Anniversary Edition of ‘Thrill Seeker’ from August Burns Red and name dropping bands like Texas In July. Under the deep v-necks and occasional synth sections, Adestria was a pretty serious metalcore band, and one of the best to combine those fast, heavy roots with fun choruses.
The songs constantly move around, and the higher screams aren’t out of place among the guitars. If you’ve listened to Adept’s old albums, they had a similar dynamic. There’s a different screaming style for every verse, similar to the approach on ‘Thrill Seeker,’ which helps the vocals keep pace with the evolving instruments.
With all of the shifting sounds, Adestria did a great job balancing light and heavy sections. Especially noteworthy is how they found the sweet spot where they could be as heavy as they were while still having upbeat instrumentals and piano synths that didn’t sound out of place. They also transitioned into uplifting choruses without breaking their songs into chunks. It’s rare, especially among older albums, for me to really enjoy choruses, but they’re done so well, and blended in so seamlessly, that they’re one of my favorite parts of ‘Chapters’.
Every song on this album is a highlight in my eyes, but “1984, “Compromised,” and “This Ship, A Coffin” are must listens. “Whiskey For The Soul” features Telle from The Word Alive and “Scarlet Letter” features Scott Barnes from In Fear and Faith, both of which were heavy hitters at the time.
Adestria released another album two years later, but it didn’t have the same magic as ‘Chapters’. Still, I blame their record label for the lack of attention they received because this album (and the EP that came out before it) should have set them up for a bright future.
Adestria // Chapters
Categories: Reviews
