For those unfamiliar with Ligation, you're in for an intriguing, forty-plus-minute treat. Those familiar with their splits get about half as much fresh material, but having all of Ligation's current catalog in one convenient package will certainly make up for it. Whether one is calling it death metal or death mental, After Gods hits hard and heavy, with more focus on the plodding rhythms and depth of riffs instead of blistering speed. Akin to Entombed's "death n roll," Ligation has more of a doomy, rocked out metal backbone, and the band works within this blueprint very well. While many metal trios thicken their mixes by various effects, double tracking, or other methods, Ligation utilize different approaches that set them apart from the pack. Whether filling out songs with distorted, noisy layers or letting songs devolve into chaotic noise madness, the band uses these tools wisely, with each a well planned and well played addition. Outside of the experimental, more pedal based noise, tracks like "Reflection" feature a dissonant, wailing saxophone to add pained ambiance to the heavy, doomy flood of emotion. Growing up with "Grim Reaper" by Siege, this track hits very close to home and its frantic fingering along with the sludge brings about a fitting end to the new material presented here. 

 

Metal is a fantastic and vibrant medium that allows its devotees to channel their innermost feelings, call on their most varied inspirations, and craft something fierce, personal, and memorable for other eager fans. Ligation take a doomy, rockin' approach to death, focusing more on heavy vibe and atmosphere reminiscent of Entombed and Autopsy, but integrate exciting elements like noise and saxophones to give their work extra, unexpected dimension. Each time the listener starts to feel comfortable with the sound, something new sneaks its way in and helps the song subtly change, keeping each track fresh, fun, and interesting. While the bonus tracks account for almost forty per cent of the material, they help expand upon the album and allow new listeners to get a better idea of what Ligation is all about.