CONCEALED

Even though lead vocalist Patrick Loisel shifts between death growls and clean vocals, and Arianne Fleury contributes some female vocals here and there, make no mistake: Augury are a tough, hardline death metal group whose technical and progressive approach doesn't amount to an overall softening of their approach. Yes, the album has its quieter, acoustic moments, but in practice these are used to build tension and ensure that the more brutal moments hit all the harder. I'm not sure Augury are necessarily destined to rewrite the technical death metal rulebook, but Concealed is a decent enough exercise in the form which followers of this style will appreciate.