Music Reviews

Vader - Litany

This Edition’s Reviews:

Peccatum - Oh, My Regrets EP (Candlelight Records, 2000)

Rating: 2/10
Tracks: Rise Ye Humans, Oh My Regrets, Blood Red Skies

To say I was very disappointed by this would be the understatement of the century.  I hadn't heard anything off of Strangling From Within and I'm glad I only had to listen to this 3 track EP.  Combining horribly done neo-classical keyboards, bland unimaginative guitar playing, annoying operatic female vocals, and male vocals ranging from falsetto to high pitched shrieks, Peccatum find a way to disappoint you with nearly every aspect of the music. This reminds me of Maudlin of the Well and Rakoth, except both those bands manage to play something innovative,  original, and interesting to listen to. Peccatum simply is not up to par with them it sounds like circus or carnival music.  I just can't believe that's the voice of the same man who put on one of black metal's greatest vocal performances on In the Nightside Eclipse.  I just don't see the appeal of this band at all. - Rick

Fleurety - Last Minute Lies EP (Supernal Music, 2000)

Rating: 7/10
Tracks: Facets, I Saw Claws, Vortex

I've been longing to hear something similar to Ved Buens Ende for years now and this band has sort of fulfilled that wish. Less imaginative bass lines, but few bassists of any genre are on par with Skoll (Ulver, Ved Buens Ende, Etc).  The female vocals in this are great too, not overdone or trying too hard, it's the good balance of normal singing and operatic vocals. I also hear quite a bit of Jazz influence in this, and almost like sections of the songs are improvised.  Very unique style and it's certainly an interesting listen, it reminds me of Ved Buens Ende but with both male and female vocals.  If you are a fan of any Post-Black Metal music such as Arcturus, Ulver, Dødheimsgard, VBE, Etc then you should enjoy this quite a bit. - Rick

Atomic Opera - Gospel Cola (Metal Blade, 2000)

Rating: 1/10
Tracks: Jesus Junk, October, WinterLand, Reiah Discerns The Times, Malediction, My Head, Silence, Muse, Love is as Strong as Death, The Circle is Closed, Stop My Heart, Doxology

Atomic Opera aspire to lofty King's X heights and reside at lowly Matchbox 20 levels. This is utter dreck. To their credit, Atomic Opera are adequate musicians and can carry a melody, but they are such a blatant King's X ripoff that Doug Pinnick would be turning over in his grave, if he was dead. Gospel Cola is like the Don "No Soul" Simmons version of Faith Hope Love. Come on, guys. When they said "shit or get off the pot," they didn't mean go grab the shit from someone else's pot. Jesus Junk, indeed. - Al Kikuras

Cephalic Carnage - Exploiting Dysfunction (Relapse, 2000)

Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Hybrid, Driven To Insanity, Rehab, Observer to the Obliteration of Planet Earth, On Six, Cryptosporidium, The Ballad of Moon, Of Smoke, Warm Hand on a Cold Night (A tale of onesomes), Invertus Indicia (The Marijuana Convictions), Miestandos Plantas Muertos!, Eradicate Authority, Paralyzed by Fear, Exploiting Dysfunction

I'd heard a lot about Cephalic Carnage before Exploiting Dysfunction arrived on my desk, but I wasn't really "believing the hype," to use the "hip lingo." I had my doubts that a bunch of stoners could pull off all their proponents were claiming they could. I'd heard they were churning out some of the most insane, wacked out hypergrind of all time.

It is happy for me to say that I was being an ignorant fool. This is some INSANE stuff. I thought "the pot" made you mellow! (Understand that, having never smoked it myself, I am basing this assumption on the catalog of excellent Cheech & Chong movies). Exploiting Dysfunction is a 15-song mindfuck of epic proportions. Picture Dillinger Escape Plan on death metal and a whole lot of reefer, boys and girls. Cephalic Carnage blast one second, then shift gears into a brutal death metal stomp and then a trippy, jazz-flavored section with clean guitars and spoken vocals. Speaking of vocals, the man behind the mic, Lenzig, has quite a range, sounding like all three members of the classic Reek of Putrefaction Carcass lineup embodied in one person, with a touch of hardcore to flavor it all.

This is a musically rewarding album that appeals to the intellect as much as the primitive beast within us all that makes us love this stuff to begin with. Pot may not be good for you, but if it will help bands reach levels this impressive, I may start lobbying for legalization, myself. - Al Kikuras

Corporation 187 - Subliminal Fear (Wicked World, 2000)

Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Caught Inside Your Mind, With Your Sins, Straw Coloured Corpse, Paralyzed, Frustration, Subliminal Fear, Hypnotic Illusion, Souls, Hope Is Lost, Low Pitched

Brutal thrash reminiscent of Fear Factory and Machine Head, but standing on their own. Subliminal Fear is an album full of anger and hostility. These guys pound away at the world with their music. They take no prisoners and ask no apologies. They are talented though, and can really grove. The lead singer is basically thrash-growls guy, but can scream when needed. He is very aggressive which I like. He isn't trying to sing, his is trying to kill you. That's what we need more of.

This type of band is good to hear, or let me say that a band like this that is original and talented is good to hear. There were a lot of these "Fear Factory-like" bands popping up for a while, but most of them have gone the way of the recycle bin, but Corporation 187 is here to stay, I think. Check these guys out for some full on head pounding fun. - Piston Rod

Domine - Dragonlord (Tales Of The Noble Steel) (Metal Blade, 2000)

Rating: 8/10
Tracks: Anthem (A Declaration Of War), Thunderstorm, Last Of The Dragonlords (Lord Elric's Imperial March), Blood Brothers' Fight, Defenders, Mars The Bringer Of War, Dragonlord (The Grand Master Of The Mightiest Beasts), Uriel The Flame Of God, The Ship Of The Lost Souls, The Battle For The Great Silver Sword: a suite in VII parts: I. Overture - The Dawn Of Steel, II. The Pipes Of War, III. The Sacrifice Chant, IV. War!, V. Sword Fight, VI. The Sword Is Broken, VII. Finale - The Sunset Of Steel

I want to love these guys. I want to embrace them as true metal brothers, but there is something about them that just doesn't sit well. I listen to the songs, I read the liner notes, I listen to the lyrics, and everything is great. I just doesn't pump me up. There is aggression in the music, but the lead singer, Morby, is a pussy. He is singing about going to war, and he is singing it like a love song. I'm sorry, but you really have to rip my head off with your voice. You have to tell the story with your vocals. Be aggressive, god damn it. Fucking Pussy Motherfucking Assholes!! Really, listen to "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest), Eric Adams (Manowar), Rod Halford (ex-Judas Priest), King Diamond, Udo (U.D.O. + Accept), etc. Scream you bitches, scream!

Otherwise, the album is great. Epic stories of great warriors, terrible battles, heroic deeds, and horrible evil. I love it all. I just wish that it was a better band doing the deeds. Musically they are talented and aggressive, but lack imagination or originality. Basically following the steps of 100's of bands before them. Perhaps these guys will develop into a more well rounded metal band. And by the way guys, you should listen to my criticisms, Soilwork did, and wound up with an amazing album. You guys should too. - Piston Rod

Dying Breed - Fleshflower (Bloodfart Music, 2000)

Rating: 8.7/10
Tracks: Fleshflower, Chipeland, El Juero, La Liberte, Recarved, Porn, Repetition

Dying Breed hails themselves as "Porn Metal", but what they really are is a damn good death metal band. These guys have some serious chops. Their sound is brutal, the lead singer has some good deep growls, the drummer pounds away with the fever of a mad-man, and overall the band just kicks ass: sticking to one formula, "play brutal and heavy". The cover art is also worth mentioning: it's a bunch of vaginas all put together to form a sort-of flower. Very cool. Check these guys out if you are into bands like Vader, Morbid Angel, Hate Plow, or Morta Skuld. I don’t think you will be disappointed. - Piston Rod

Mortification - 10 Years Live Not Dead (Metal Blade 2000)

Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Dead Man Walking, Buried Into Obscurity, Medley, Martyrs, Peace In The Galaxy, Hammer Of God, Influence, Steve Thanks, Mephibosheth, Chapel Of Hope, Liberal Mediocrity, God Rulz, King Of Kings

"Who wants to hear some metal?" this album begins, and that's what you get. Full speed, bone crushing, metal. Mid-tempo thrash with hints of death and speed thrown in. Steve Rowe's vocals are growls, but with a lot of personality. These guys play the type of no bullshit metal that I like.

Recorded live October 1, 1999 at the Blackstump Festival Appin, N.S.W. Australia, this album represents the band's 10th anniversary. Be forewarned that these guys are a "born-again Christian metal band", that alone gives me the heebie-jeebies, but I can overlook it. They don't really push their ideals in your face, they just sing from their own experiences and beliefs. I mean Deicide pushes their ideals of Christ-hating in your face more than these guys push Christ-loving. It would be interesting to see these two bands on the same stage though.

The sound quality is good. The songs come off well, and the lead singer introduces most of the songs, which gives the little something extra you look for on a live album. If you can put up with the "Born-again Christian" angle (I know, visions of Stryper come to my mind too), then this is good thrash metal. If not, then wait for the next Deicide album, it should be out soon. - Piston Rod

Night In Gales - Nailwork (Nuclear Blast, 2000)

Rating: 7/10
Tracks: Nailwork, Blades To Laughter, Wormsong, All Scissor's Smile, How To Eat A Scythe, Black Velvet, Filthfinger, The Ten Mile Tongue, Hearse Lights, Down The Throat, Quick Silver Spine.

Night In Gales are really good. The music is very well-constructed metal. Thrash mixed with death and a little black metal thrown in. I like it a lot. These guys have some very good ideas, and the music is all-out aggression. There are three basic styles of singing on Nailwork: Death metal/Thrash growls that sound and work really well with the music, Black metal banshee-like wails that also works well, but then we come to the kicker… clean vocals?!?!? What the hell are these guys thinking? The music is great, and then this clean vocaled prissy mommas-boy comes in and ruins everything (I bet he was in a frat in college). I can't in good consensus give these guys a good review for a fuck-up this big. Clean vocals, god, what were they thinking? Someone get me a vomit bag. - Piston Rod

Sinner - The End Of Sanctuary (Nuclear Blast, 2000)

Rating: 8.7/10
Tracks: Signed Sealed & Delivered, Blood Relations, The End Of Sanctuary, Pain In Your Neck, Edge Of The Blade, The Prophecy, Destiny, Congress Of Deceit, Heavy Duty, Night Of The Wolf, Broken World, Hand Of The Saint

Sinner is true metal, no bullshit. Catchy songs, total 80's style guitar solos, and total 80's attitude. I have reviews these guys last few albums, and have liked them all to an extent. The music gives me everything I'm looking for in metal: aggression, catchiness, and attitude, but where I get squirrley is with Mat Sinner's singing. When he is goes with the lower animalistic growls then he is fine (like on the song 'Pain In Your Neck'), but when he tries to "sing" he turns me off completely. He just doesn't have that good of a voice.

With all things taken into consideration, It's better to have a band like Sinner around. These guys' hearts are definitely rooted in metal, and they really can kick ass with the big boys. Mat Sinner would do himself a lot of good however if he stepped back from the singing realm, and hired a kick ass screamer ala "Ripper" Owen (Judas Priest), or Eric Adams (Manowar). - Piston Rod

The Quiet Room - Reconceive (Metal Blade, 2000)

Rating: 8/10
Tracks: Suffercation, Choke On Me, Your Hate, Reason For Change, Realms Of Deceit, Controlling Nation, Room 15, Less Than Zero, Face Your Judgment, This Pain, Two Minutes Hate

Quiet Room is progressive metal, which basically means it's a bunch of talented musicians jerking off into their instruments, "Look how good I can play, I'm the best musician ever", without any real substance to sink your teeth into. Dream Theater suffer from that big time. Quiet Room give you more substance than Dream Theater, actually the two are like apples and oranges. Quiet Room are a lot heavier, and I can respect them more. I just don't really get excited by them. It's kinda like they are "playing" metal musicians, instead of being true metal. I do hear some elements of Voivod in there as well, and some Cynic too. I guess that's a better comparison… Cynic. I think they are great musically, but don't do anything for me listening wise. That's the same feeling I got with these guys. Check it out though if you are into progressive metal, these guys are one of the better bands in the genre. It’s just a genre I don’t really like. - Piston Rod

Decapitated - Winds of Creation (Wicked World, 2000)

Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Winds of Creation, Blessed, The First Damned, Way to Salvation, The Eye of Horus, Human's Dust, Nine Steps, Dance Macabre, Mandatory Suicide

Bless those Poles, with their long blonde hair, excellent sausage and brutal, BRUTAL death metal. Decapitated are playing it the way we all know it should be played and the way so few are still playing it. If bands 6 years ago were this good, death metal never would have fizzled the way it did. I was shocked to find out how young these bloods are the guitarists are 18, the bass player 16 and the vocalist is 15. I know what you are thinking the Death Kids suck, and you are right, but Decapitated do not play like stoned teenagers. They play with the ferocity and skill of seasoned veterans and, to be honest, make most seasoned veterans still out there kicking the dog around the yard look like old men. The double bass is abundant on this disc. The arrangements are, at times, intricate and at other times tastefully straightforward and barbaric. The vocals are DEEEEEEEP. If you're any kind of a self-respecting death metal fan and you're not convinced to go out and buy Winds of Creation by this point, then who needs you anyway?? - Al Kikuras

Destruction - All Hell Breaks Loose (Nuclear Blast, 2000)

Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Intro, The final curtain, Machinery of lies, Tears of blood, Devastation of your soul, The Butcher strikes back, World domination of pain, X-treme measures, All hell breaks loose, Total desaster 2000, Visual prostitution, Kingdom of damnation, Whiplash

Destruction have returned with 2/3 of the original, classic lineup and have released a THRASH album that does not sound at all rehashed or stale. It is heavy and balls-out aggressive from the first second to the last and the songs have the catchiness that was a token of classic thrash and is sorely missing in the efforts most of the new blood are putting forth. Songs like "Machinery of Lies," "Tears of Blood" and "The Butcher Strikes Back" would sit well on albums like Infernal Overkill, if not for the far superior production.

I know there are much bigger Destruction fans than I am that are going to hate this album as it is not as raw as their earlier material, especially Schmier's vocals. 'Tis true, his voice is not as sick as it once was, but he still has some serious balls. His screams aren't quite what they used to be, but what he lacks in the actual sound of his voice he more than makes up for in delivery. The music is fast and furious. The band is tighter than they have ever been in the past, and are one of the few acts that have managed to update the classic thrash sound and modernize it without abandoning any of the characteristics that made it so great to begin with: a fuck-you attitude and great riffs! It is also good to see a band that didn't abandon the imagery and beliefs they once touted (Mantas and Abbadon, I am looking in your direction. We all saw the right-side up crucifixes you were wearing in the press photos for the still-killer Prime Evil album). Schmier is adorned with a very large inverted cross, and the lyrics still reflect that sentiment in songs like "Total Desaster 2000" (someone needs to proofread lyrics and songtitles, bad): "I can never trust the virgin preacher, I don't believe in Jesus Christ."

It has been far too long since a band besides Manowar didn't sound like fools when they referred to themselves in a song. Most new bands emulating the masters that did so wound up sounding more like a parody than the genuine deal, but it thrills me to say that Destruction managed to pull it off in "The Butcher Strikes Back." I guess you can chalk it up to their veteran status. I leave you with the chorus of that glorious slab of metal, as it rings oh so poignantly in my ears as a testament to the victorious return of one of the greatest thrash bands of all time

The butcher strikes back!
Devastating thrash attack!
An invincible force - released from agony
Hail to those who obey
And believe in DESTRUCTION!

By the way, I have to make mention of the cover of Metallica’s “Whiplash,” which is very sick and done to the numbers, with the exception of one changed lyric: “We’ll never stop, we’ll never quit ‘cause we’re NOT Metallica!!” - Al Kikuras

Incantation - The Infernal Storm (Relapse, 2000)

Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Anoint the Chosen, Extinguishing Salvation, Impetuous Rage, Sempiternal Pandemonium, Lustful Demise, Heaven Departed, Apocalyptic Destroyer of Angels, Nocturnal Kingdom of Demonic Enlightenment

Death metal underground stalwarts Incantation have returned with another offering, in a much more timely fashion than previous releases. Considering Incantation have been active for over 10 years and have produced only 4 full-length studio albums in that time, the fact that it has been a little over a year since their last release (the excellent Diabolical Conquest) seems remarkable. Yes, yet another lineup change has taken place... McEntee is the only remaining member from the last album, or any release before that. Remarkably, he has managed to find musicians that can keep the Incantation sound intact, if not identical, throughout the years and that pretty much says it all. The Infernal Storm is more of what you have come to expect from Incantation very brutal, dark, eerily atmospheric death metal with very low, repulsive, one-dimensional vocals. The material is a tad more technical than on Diabolical Conquest, with a lot more riffs jammed into each song.

I wasn't sure about the album at first, but after listening to it a number of times in an attempt to make up my mind, it grew on me. The thing that sets Incantation apart from other bands of their ilk is the epic nature of the music. They paint soundscapes in death metal. The music speaks as much, if not more, than the lyrics (especially considering I cannot understand a word the vocalist is saying, nor have I been able to on any previous releases OR in the live situation), conveying a foreboding sense of doom. I think their albums would be equally listenable if they were instrumental from start to finish. That is not to say there isn't merit in the vocal performance... there certainly is, but the music, itself, speaks tomes. In this case, the seemingly endless jumble of riffs that make up a good portion of The Infernal Storm take on the characteristics of a storm, themselves. Chaotic, thunderous, frightening. The layout and cover art also embody this theme, consisting of a a collage of blasphemies and flesh tones arranged in a decidedly inhuman fashion, as if a gaggle of housewives had been thrown into a blender with a dozen copies of that "Pisschrist" painting that had the christians all up in arms a few years back.

Another strong release from death metal veterans Incantation, The Infernal Storm is another testament to why the band has persevered for over a decade in a genre where so many bands drop off like flies. - Al Kikuras

Mental Home - Upon the Shores of Inner Seas (Century Media, 2000)

Rating: 7/10
Tracks: Downstairs, Late to Revise, Eternal Moon, Bliss, Against My Will, Breakdown, Stained, Amidst the Waves '99

I hadn't heard any of Mental Home's other releases so I went into this having no clue what to expect.  I wasn't totally impressed or blown away by this but it's a good album.  The songs have what this style of doomy/progressive music need, emotion and feeling. These songs are all extremely well written and played, and it doesn't have the "Progressive Jam" sound that Dream Theater seems to have all the time. The drums aren't high up enough in the mix, but that's ok because the bassist seems to go off in his own world and not play note for note, which I love in a band. Fans of older Mental Home should like this, also fans of Hollenthon, some Katatonia, and even Opeth fans might enjoy this. - Rick

Disgorge - Cranial Impalement (Extremities Productions, 2000)

Rating: 8/10
Tracks: Deranged epidemic, Atonement, Cognative Lust of Mutilation, Period of Agony, Cranial Impalement, Penetrate the Unfledged, Malodorous Oblation, Carnally Decimated

This is the California band for those of you who don't know.  Well, this band's been around for quite some time, and they recorded 2 demos, Deranged Epidemic, and Cranial Impalement.  Steve at Extremities finally released these onto one disc and while it's a bit short  (9 tracks, 24 minutes) it's extremely sick and accomplishes what I think it was set out to. While there is no lyric sheet included which is a bit frustrating it doesn't matter much. When an album is this sick you don't need lyrics.  The riffs on it are a bit lacking at times, but the drumming and vocals are where this band really stands out. Matti Way's totally fucking INHUMAN vocals steal the show on this disc. For a long time I thought he cupped, or used delay on his vocals but it appears to be natural, and sounds extremely similar to Clean Flesh' vocals.  The drumming too sounds incredibly fast and perfect time is kept throughout, and the drummer Ricky doesn't slow down at all.  I'm not sure what to say about this band except if you want some really heavy, brutal and fast death metal this album is for you. Highly recomended for fans of Clean Flesh/Erotic Incisions, Devourement, Fermento and others in that style. - Rick

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