Here we are, in 2016, and metalcore is still going strong. The bands that still adhere to this genre and manage to stand out are few and far between, and many have expanded their sound and injected more modern elements into their music. Hailing from Coral Springs, Florida, metalcore act Forty Winters isn't trying to reinvent the wheel with their sophomore album, Rotting Empire. They don't rely on any modern or trendy qualities, instead opting for a more bruising and straightforward approach, hearkening back to the early days of metalcore, when names like Hatebreed were at the top of the scene.
With the opening track "Summoning Spirits," Forty Winters clues the listener in on what to expect from Rotting Empires. This is pretty much your average, run-of-the mill metalcore, complete with pounding rhythms, fist-pumping riffs, and mosh-ready breakdowns. Even so, Forty Winters are still good at what they do. They do a good job of mixing straight-up hardcore tendencies with a healthy death metal influence, making for some fun moments, such as with the groove riffs in "Empty Tombs" and "Snuff Out the Light."
All of this is to say that if you're looking for a good metal album to work out to, and one you don't have to think too hard about, Rotting Empires is a good place to start. However, looking at the album based purely on its artistic merits, the album leaves much to be desired. It goes without saying that this type of album has been made many, many times before, and frankly, it's been done much better as well. The guys of Forty Winters are talented, no doubt about it, and it's apparent they're simply a metal band trying to play the music they grew up listening to. Rotting Empires is a pissed-off and passionate affair, but ultimately, it's destined to get lost in translation, simply because it's a rehash of something that's been done way too many times before.
Score: 5/10
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