Music Reviews

Blut Aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God (Candlelight USA, 2004)

Rating: 10/10

Even if this is a French guy with a German name making black metal, this is some of the most awesome black metal that has been produced in years.  Having been out for five months, you'd think that it would have made a larger dent than it seems to have, which is disappointing.  So here to help lead the onslaught is your faithful Enforcer, Jim Bob.

Black Metal is hard to do with out rehashing the same concepts and themes again and again.  While still hanging onto the prime tenaments of black metal, BLUT AUS NORD has made a move forward. It might not seem like a giant leap for black metal to combine the forces of the rawness and hate with the forces of doom and atmosphere (XASTHUR, anyone?) but BLUT AUS NORD does so with elite effect.

Every song twists what you thought you knew about black metal into something just a little more evil, a little more sadistic, a little more creepy, a little more atmospheric and throws it all back in your face. This album twists and plods foward tying together the raw aggression of bands like GORGOROTH with some of the later progressive tendencies of MAYHEM (minus the beatnik vocals) and adds in some of the depressive tendencies of XASTHUR, to great effect.

One of the problems with an album like this is trying to explain what you hear, and what's so effective about it. What's effective about this record is not what's being done but HOW it's done. The songwriting is unique, it's not just a matter of verse, chorus, verse or a 9 minute song of the same trem-picked/blast riff.  There's an excellent use of dissonance and resonance on this record that one doesn't hear often.

The real effect of this album is to sow the seeds of chaos into a music and to let them grow into little barbed wires that prick through the facade of the soundscape and eat into the back of your mind. Very few bands ever paint pictures so perfectly with music. BLUT AUS NORD is masterful. - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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Anvil of Doom - Died Before Dawn Demo (Xtreem Music, 2003)

Rating:  7/10

Spanish Black Metal. I haven't heard many bands in this vein from that region of the world and this demo makes me kind of wish there were more, if they could all be as good as ANVIL OF DOOM anyhow. AOD play a very melodic and epic style of black metal with vocals so Dani Filth might now feel intimidated, although when you're 4'6" everything could be intimidating so perhaps its a moot point, but anyways let’s get on with this.

With a name like ANVIL OF DOOM I was expecting some type of thrash metal but I was greeted with a much more pleasing melodic black metal band, but I do have one issue with this recording. The keyboards have this sound that remind me of the old midi type of music in classic NES games. If you can look past the keyboard tinkering this is a very good demo though and I would most definitely like to hear more from these guys. - Rick

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Cult of Luna - Salvation (Earache, 2004)

Rating: 10/10

Never in my life have I listened to "sludge."  Sludge is apparently an incredibly slow form of Hardcore. Huh. Sludge sounds just like doom metal with a hardcore vocalist to me, and since I've never listened to such sludge bands as these guys are compared to everywhere (ISIS, NEUROSIS) I have no basis for this comparison. But I will say this, take the minimalism of early KATOTONIA the speed of MY DYING BRIDE, mix them with hardcore vocals and BOOM(!) you have CULT OF LUNA.

Needless to say, this band is incredible.  The "claustrophobic" minimalism combined with the atmosphere of doom metal makes for an incredible sound that plods its way through your speakers.  From the first (five minutes) notes of the record, a simple delay pedal clean melody, through the bitter screams and the mirky chords that decorate this masterpiece, everything is done right.

One of the things I noticed about this record was the use of soundscapes to bolster the songs.  This atmosphere adds incredible depth to songs that might've lacked them, due to the guitar sound.  While I definitely wish that there were more of this "wall of sound" guitar sound that you hear from KATATONIA now, I think the atmosphere adds an extra dimension that will separate them from the pack.

Given everything, these Swedes have nailed it right on the head.  They packed 73 minutes of incredible music onto this CD, and it's all worth it. Start to finish, I haven't heard a better record in a very long time. And while I'm not familiar with sludge, I am familiar with doom, and good doom records are few and far between, these days. If you're a fan of either style of music, these guys are worth picking up.- Jim Bob The Enforcer

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Cumchrist - Cumplete (Unmatched Brutality, 2003)

Rating:  8/10

I've been waiting for this one for such a long time. Many years ago I got a copy of God Owes Me Money, the first official CUMCHRIST demo tape after talking to him on an America Online chatroom and I forgot how much I enjoyed that demo until just now, as good as it was though the newer material on here just kills that first demo in every way possible.

I'm not sure exactly who was/is in this band but I'm sure its some of the best of the midwest because this is some quality brutal death metal.  The one complaint I have on this is the songs are very short, shorter than I remembered them being.  At times this almost reminds me of the almighty NARCOLEPSY from Georgia, just a lot more straight forward.  Everything on here sounds really damn good though, a testament to the quality of the songs and production on the debut demo.

Its great to see this was released on CD format finally, Unmatched Brutality were wise to put this stuff out. I just hope it doesn't get totally overlooked, if I had my way I'd make sure everyone knew who CUMCHRIST is, and I will recommend this to all of my friends into extreme music.  Now, when is a full length coming out?  Get working on it Scrote! - Rick

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Dan Lorenzo - Nice Being Alone (self-released, 2004)

Rating: 9/10

HADES and NON-FICTION founding member, Dan Lorenzo, has stuck a huge finger right up into the face of the music industry with his second solo release, Nice Being Alone.

How is it, you ask?

Great. Heavy. Catchy. At times tongue-in-cheek and funny, at others as dismal as anything Dan has written while heading sludge-gods NF. This is a brave album that touches on many, many genres, from a rocking AC/DC spoof ("Bonjour"), to punk-thrash ("Too Fast For Hate," featuring Bobby Blitz of OVERKILL on vocals), to the down-tuned mayhem of the heavy-as-fuck "Nothing" (which wouldn't sound out of place on CELTIC FROST's To Mega Therion), and it doesn't stop there. "F-Bombs For Everyone" is bickering between Dan and longtime friend and collaborator Johnny Milnes (Mucky Pup) set to a chugging riff that is cut up with one of the most catchy choruses of all time. "Tall" is a steroid-pumped blues. "323ILG" a beautiful melodic interlude dedicated to Dan's father featuring (get this) FLUTE! On a metal album! "Keep It Together" and "My Level" lean towards the NON-FICTION days of yore. There is so much to absorb here, and while with such a diverse collection, you would expect the album to be an unfocused mess, the songs flow from one to the next and the end result is an album that never gets tired or boring, with Dan deftly jumping from genre-to-genre, somehow making everything work despite the myriad of styles. I am sure he will catch hell for some of the stuff on NBA from die-hard HADES and NON-FICTION fans, but that is what's so great about the album... it is adventurous and inspired. Where most bands attempting to put together such an eclectic collection might fall flat on their faces, Dan succeeds with flying colors, which is true testament to his strength as a writer. I am already looking forward to the next release which, considering his track record so far (Dan released his last solo album, Cassius King, less than 8 months ago) might be here before Christmas which, by the way, Dan Zig hates. - Al Kikuras

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Defacing - The Beginning of Human Cruelty Demo (Xtreem, 2003)

Rating:  8/10

Xtreem Music is a label I have a lot of mixed feelings for, some of their releases are damn fine but I often get the feeling a lot of bands they sign just because they can.  DEFACING were a wise pickup based on this demo though.

DEFACING are one of those rare death metal bands where there aren't a whole lot of slow parts to let the listener kind of let it all sink in. This has 1 speed, FAST.  The vocals are insane lows that remind me of a clogged toilet and cricket chirps, which I absolutely love. The drummer's got quick hands and feet too, and the riffs are just amazing.  I don't know what I can say about these guys other then prepare to have your ass handed to you.  I can't fucking wait to hear a full length from them, this demo is a great taste of what they could potentially do. - Rick

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Dehiscence - Vomitous Emissions (Demo, 2004)

Rating: 7/10

What we have here is a solid start to what could be a very promising death metal project. Ultra-brutal and nasty vocals slathered over frantic guitar work is the formula, similar to that employed by bands like Gut, Sanatorium, Inveracity and the like. A drum machine is used to the detriment of the material, which is the main weak link here as it sounds too mechanical, but checking the Dehiscence web site I see that a live drummer has been added. Better production would suit the material as well. I have high hopes for the next release as sole-member at the time of this recording, Kristina, evidently has an ear and heart for the brutal and with better sound and an actual band behind her, Dehiscence could be quite a formidable force in the metal underground. - Al Kikuras

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Esqarial - Inheretance (Crash Music, 2004)

Rating: 8/10

I don't listen to enough "death metal" to actually make any reasonable comparisons, if there are even any. These guys, while undeniably death metal, blow away most that I've heard lately.  Incredibly melodic, but more melodic like power metal than like a Swedish Death band, they go between incredible guitar melodies and sounds and chunky riffs that make up the verses/vocal parts.  When not held down, they paint vivid melodic pictures of beauty and tragedy. 

This album starts off by punching you in the face with the track "Inheretance" following which it's a roller coaster ride to the finish.  The intensity is great, and there is enough variation to keep you interested. This means vocals going from growls to clean and back,  a short (2:05) acoustic piece and, of course, the incredible guitar solos that litter this album.

It's no surprise, of course, to find out that these guys hail from Poland, but their sound is a surprise to me. While you could say that it's like VADER, it has unique sound qualities, mainly tone and melody, that hold it apart.  An excellent recording, and top notch writing, bolstered by a solid lineup to pull it off make ESQARIAL a complete, and welcome, surprise! - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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Fenriz Presents... the Best of Old School Black Metal (Peaceville, 2004)

Rating: 8/10

An interesting idea. One of the icons of a genre putting together a collection of what he considers to be some of the most important and best the genre has to offer.

The Best of Old School Black Metal is a difficult one to review. Do I consider the merits of the individual bands herein or pick apart Fenriz's choices of what to include? The answer... neither. While I, personally, might not consider some of what is on this compilation to really be "black metal," they belong on here nonetheless because they were instrumental in bands like DARKTHRONE delveloping their sound. CELTIC FROST and HELLHAMMER are not black metal bands by any stretch of the imagination, but had there not been a HELLHAMMER or DESTRUCTION or SODOM, there most likely would not be a Mayhem or MARDUK.

Most self-respecting metalheads will have most of the releases that these tracks are lifted from, so buying the album may not be a high priority, but all fans of black metal that weren't around when SODOM was a sloppy mess, or when a band called MERCYFUL FATE were doing something that sounded so utterly different from everything that had come before it, should get this album by all means for a history lesson. You will hear where the bands you love got their inspiration, and for those of us that already know, this is still a great listen if, for no other reason, than to absorb all of these groundbreaking bands in one listen, one after the other, which made me realize... this is where the second wave of black metal bands (some of which are included here, along with new blood like NATTEFROST and AURA NOIR) got their sound from, but where the fuck did bands like BATHORY and SARCOFAGO get it from? Fenriz's liner notes are very candid and give insight into why he chose each track. Definitely a good read and a good album to roll down memory lane with, or the perfect listen when you and your friends just want to pound beers and blast some good old fucking primordial metal. - Al Kikuras

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Fragments of Unbecoming - Skywards | A Sylphe's Ascension (Metal Blade, 2004)

Rating: 10/10

Melodic metal is alive and well. Last time around it was INSOMNIUM, this time..its FRAGMENTS OF UNBECOMING. For a while I really believed this style peaked way back but I've never been happier to be 100% wrong in all of my life. For every cookie cutter caveman dirt eating straight to tape black metal band, or slam riff laden brutal death metal album getting to hear music such as this makes all of those horrendous albums worth listening to.  After one particular bad batch of discs, I mentioned to Al how bad those albums were and I was tired of crap and he responded with "you take the good you take the bad, you take ‘em both and there you have the facts of life."  Al Kikuras, a wise man indeed.

Hailing from Germany, FRAGMENTS OF UNBECOMING claim to play "Swedish style death metal" and I can not disagree with this.  This album is just dripping with Swedish guitar tone and harmonies for most of its duration, 41 minutes.  The only real deviation from this is the acoustic sections in several songs, and of course the intro and outro. Do I mind this?  No. Its rare you find an album so mindblowing, this band is just filled with virtuosos.

Whether its from the crunchier moments in the title track, or any of the hyper-technical leads, this album just makes me close my eyes, tilt my head back and for a brief little while, I forget how shitty life can be at times and just drown myself in the greatness that is this disc. In a time where I'm getting sick of a lot of bands and albums, its incredibly refreshing to hear something as fresh as this sounds. Often times, when bands play this style you hear a lot of riffs you think might be recycled from other albums but I don't get that feeling once here.  Nothing sounds familiar, its a brave new world of melodic death metal.

There isn't a lot more to say about this, its Swedish styled death metal, its out now and if you enjoy any death metal in the vein of bands such as AT THE GATES, DARK TRANQUILITY, DISSECTION, SINS OF OMISSION, ETC get this as soon as possible. - Rick

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Haemorrhage/Impaled - Dementia Rex (Razorback, 2004)

Rating: 9/10

Holy hell, this is a freakin' blast, in the literal sense and as a figure of speech. HAEMORRHAGE and IMPALED have teamed up in a meeting of forces that could only have been hosted by the mighty Razorback Records. Dementia Rex is a heavy, nasty, twisted, gloriously depraved and downright FUN album with these two masters of death grind doing their damndest to outfreak and outfuck one another in the puke and piss departments. CARCASS-isms abound throughout. Rather than coming off as a competition between the two, however, each band's material sits perfectly along with the other, not just exploring similar musical territory, but lyrical as well.

About that music... brace your colon, because these fuckers have unleashed a torrent of diarrhea-inducing death metal. HAEMORRHAGE vocalist Lugubrious actually sounds like he is about to puke at times on "Psychotic Delerium." The whole band is just out of control throughout their 5 tracks (including an intro and a cover of GRAVE's classic "Deformed"), thrashing with total abandon. Primitive and catchy like the plague... the kind of music that makes me want to pound cheep beer 'till I puke up blood.

Impaled have outdone all of their other material I have heard on Dementia Rex (though I have yet to hear the last splatter platter). Weaving a creepy yarn about lunatics taking over an asylum in a murderous rage, they paint the picture not just in words, but in sound, and round things off with perfectly cheesy B-movie-horror-movie-type dialog tying the tracks together. IMPALED's half (though it comprises more than half) of Dementia Rex listens like a movie and is just as entertaining as the best of the good "bad" horror movies I have seen from the first moment to the last. As if that wasn't enough, they throw in a cover of REPULSION's "Helga Lost Her Head."

Dementia Rex is one of the best Razorback, and death grind, releases to date, and a novel idea for a split that I hope more bands latch on to. Lord Gore and Ghoul, you guys are next. Make it happen, Razorback. - Al Kikuras

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Impulse Manslaughter - Live At WFMU (Beer City, 2004)

Rating: 9/10

I'm a sucker for live recordings, especially of bands like IMPULSE MANSLAUGHTER that are all about forward energy. Very little dynamics... just ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK. IMPULSE MANSLAUGHTER are of the same ilk as early NAPALM DEATH, DISRUPT, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER and UNSEEN TERROR... when bands weren't brutal for the sake of being brutal, but brutal because they were so fucking angry (or at least sounded the part).

I must admit, this is my first exposure to Impulse Manslaughter despite having heard the name repeatedly and being aware of them as a band for well over a decade now, and it is just what I expected and I am LOVING it. The power of grindcore, the anger of hardcore, the "fuck it all" attitude of punk, all under one roof. Raw, primal, raging... just great, GREAT stuff. Over 30 songs ranging from 9 seconds to almost 4 minutes, each an intense outburst of anger and emotion. Pick this one up. Me, I'm on my way to find some more IMPULSE MANSLAUGHTER CDs.- Al Kikuras

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Juggernott - Necessary Evil (self-released, 2004)

Rating: 2/10

Confusing, this one. I still am not sure if the band is called Juggernott and the album Necessary Evil or if the band is Necessary Evil and the album Juggernott or if the band is Necessary Evil and the album is called (ready for this one?) 44-27291 313w509g393s (yes that seemingly random assortment of characters is emblazoned across the bottom of the cover and elsewhere on this release).

What I am sure of is that this is a pretty dull and overlong album that falls somewhere between METALLICA, PANTERA, DANZIG, MARILYN MANSON, BLACK SABBATH, SLAYER... you name it. It is everything, it is nothing. This Album (as I shall call it, since I am not sure what the album name is)  is like trying to cover yourself with a small blanket you pull one way, your feet are cold. You pull it down, your shoulders are cold. You get the idea. This Band (as I shall call them, since I am not sure what the band name is) sounds like a bar band trying to cover every base... heavy enough to get to the real metalheads, poppy enough to appeal to folks into radio metal, dark enough to appeal to the goths, and failing on every front. In fact, they sound like what some B-movie producer would put together for a flick where he needs a “scary, evil heavy metal band” instead of finding an actual band. All the cliches, none of the real grit. The more I listen to this album, the more I dislike it. The point rating has dropped with each listen, so I am going to stop listening before I hear this for the third time and the rating drops again, and try to forget I ever heard it to begin with, which shouldn't be too challenging a task. - Al Kikuras

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Khanate - Things Viral (Southern Lord, 2003)
 
Rating: 7/10
 
On their second full length KHANATE slow it down just a bit. Of course when you're coming off a debut record that put CORRUPTED and BORIS to shame (Japanese doom legends) in terms of tempo, that's no easy feat. The problem with KHANATE’s debut record for me was always that there was too much of guitarist Stephen O' Malley's previous project (Burning Witch) present in it.  With this record KHANATE seem much more unified and confident in their approach.  Vocalist Alan Dubin is really the breakout star here.  His venomous vocal delivery adds a greater sense of unease to KHANATE’s SWANS-style dirge rants. James Plotkin's presence on bass and synth is also much further realized here than on their debut.

The only downside to creating one of the most torturous listening experiences in recent memory is that you may not find yourself particular motivated to continuously reach for something as painful as this.  Then again pain is the obvious goal here. So it's certainly safe to say that KHANATE’s sophomore affair delivers on all fronts. - Big Juan

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Khold - Mørke Gravers Kammer (Candlelight, 2004)

Rating:  7/10

I'm unfortunately not all that familiar with KHOLD, but from what I can tell they are a black metal band from Norway, well, sort of.  Post-black metal I guess would be the proper term.  All of the greats from the one time mightiest country for this genre of music have changed in rather extreme fashion.  SATYRICON, EMPEROR, MAYHEM, ULVER, etc. What the hell is in the water over there?

In any event, KHOLD have released one of the few REAL Black Metal albums I've heard in a very long time. Back when EMPEROR could write a song, the days of In the Nightside Eclipse, the music has this atmosphere to it, this really cold and dark feeling and KHOLD have captured that perfectly. Don't call them an EMPEROR clone though, that would be a huge mistake and a poor judgment of a band who really stands alone and does not deserve to be compared to many of the bands that have long since shed their skin so to speak.

KHOLD do what they do quite well, play a very dark cold mid-paced style of black metal but this album leaves me wanting something more, something different. I keep waiting for that part... where they just lose control and play something lightning fast but it doesn't come.  Everything sort of flows and bleeds together and for a band like this I think that is a horrible thing to have happen.  As far as production goes I can't say anything bad about this, it captures the atmosphere perfectly and everything sounds acceptable but as I said, I keep waiting for something more.  This isn't really for me, but there is no reason other people wouldn't dig it.  Three listens through and it has grown on me, perhaps in time it'll grow more but at this moment its just one of those albums that doesn't do anything wrong but it doesn't do enough right.- Rick

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Lair of the Minotaur - Carnage (Southern Lord,  2004)

Rating: 9/10

The goal from the beginning with LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR was to be everything they "liked about metal ... [s]tories about monsters and death, and music filled with killer chugs riffs that you can bang your head to."  Well shit, when the guy from the band gives a description like that, who needs to write a review? They have absolutely achieved their ultimate goal! Heavy fucking metal!

I'd call these guys a simplistic blackened/death metal band. There's a lot of that old school thrash involved in it, too! Think along the lines of THE CHASM!  These guys player their heavy metal with authority!  Every song is a kick in the teeth from start to finish. That doesn't mean it's all thrashy, as there are some old school doom parts in it, too. It just means it's all balls to the wall heavy! Exactly what they were aiming for!

To top it all off, they wrote an entire album about Greek Mythology (hence the not so awesome name). I cannot deny that these kinds of records make me feel all warm inside, and something as heavy, aggressive and awesome as this definitely is going to make it into my personal collection for good. - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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Lunaris - Cyclic (Earache, 2004)

Rating: 3/10

I'm told that Cyclic "Heralds a new wave of fresh sounding Norwegian innovation." Right. Innovation.  Uh huh? where are they being innovative? Would it be the blast beats and the unmemorable riffs black metal riffing that I've heard a bajillion times before?  Or woud it be the absolutely pathetic attempt to imitate Simen's (ARCTURUS, BORKNAGAR, DIMMU BORGIR) vocals, to terrible effect?  Is it innovative to be bland? Apparently, that's what they're aiming for!

There are very few high points on this album, really.  The intro to the fifth track, "Slaves of Opinion" (coincidence?) sounds reminscent of YES and ENSLAVED and it has a cool little feel to it that I dug on for the whole 24 seconds it went on.  Before, and after, that, there was nothing really interesting or innovative.  Deathy-black metal without a single riff that sticks in my head or line that made me go "Woah!"

To give you a run down, if you were to mix HYPOCRISY with ZYKLON you'd have LUNARIS. Does that sound exciting?  Yes!  Is it? No! - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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Machine Men - Scars & Wounds (Dynamic Records, 2003)

Rating: 8/10

MACHINE MEN were voted for some crazy Finnish award about being the best new band of 2003 or something.  That's because the Finns are nuts.  MACHINE MEN aren't a new band, they're the reincarnation of IRON MAIDEN.  This isn't much of a stretch. I'm not trying to shock you into reading the rest of my review, I'm not trying to cause a stink. Seriously, these guys are good, solid heavy metal with a vocalist who sounds nearly identical to Bruce Dickinson.

I like it, though. Good, honest heavy metal has always been my thing. Bands that just go up there and rock, not trying to make any pretense of being progressive or "new" in that they're somehow branching into anything other than variations on a theme (which, arguably, is all metal is).  And, like it or not, these guys do it WELL. Great twin guitar leads, great vocal melodies, catchy choruses, a beat that makes you bob your head in time.  They're fun to listen to and they're good at what they do. What else can you expect from them? Well, don't expect much else.

The songwriting is surely enjoyable. It's very anthemic.  They don't deal with too much variation or "progressive" structures at all. Defined by a classic verse, pre-chorus, chorus, verse, chorus, solo, solo, solo, solo, solo, solo, solo, chorus (until fade--this is maybe an exaggeration) structure, none of these songs are a stretch to get your mind around. You can just sit back, chill, pop in the record and have an enjoyable listen.

I would like to stress the vocals a little more. While he shows a little more variation than Dickinson (he wails like Rob Halford now and again) their vocalist has a voice that's nearly identical to the guy, and I don't think he's trying at all.  You can tell when someone is doing contrived vocals, and either this guy is great at it or he just has the same vocal qualities. Whatever the case, he's very good at it and it's one of the most enjoyable parts of this album. With the energy of a young, hungry band, and a classic metal sound that will never die, this record is surely a staple to any collection. - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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Mindgrinder - Mind Tech (Candlelight, 2004)
 
Rating: 6.5/10
 
OK, without the visuals that come with this record Mindgrinder might immediately strike you as one of the worst band names ever.  Well, maybe it would do for a band on Earache in the late 80s...but anyway...Mindgrinder definitely make up for their unimaginative name with a display of immense musical talent. This band is a perfect fit on the modern Candlelight roster, and would also be right at home sitting alongside many of the bands currently on Moonfog. What you have here is death metal that mixes itself up with elements of electronic and industrial.  Some other bands familiar to this style that come to mind include Zyklon, Myrkskog, Red Harvest and Limbonic Art.

However, while Mindgrinder present themselves as incredibly capable they also seem to fall short of the bar set by the aforementioned bands.  I found that after repeated listens I wasn't able to recall any particular song, it was one big blur to me.  What I do see is potential for a mind blowing follow-up record, no pun intended. - Big Juan

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Mithras - Worlds Beyond the Veil (Candlelight, 2004)

Rating: 8.5/10

The question on the tongues and fingers of many an internet death-metal-maven is just how much the rampant MORBID ANGEL comparisons levied towards MITHRAS are warranted. They do, indeed, worship at the throne of the Lords of Abomination, though to say they are a carbon copy would be inaccurate, but from the rhythms, to the leads, to the production, it all smacks of MA. The main element missing is the hooks. MITHRAS lack the perchance for writing catchy ditties but they stretch their legs into more musically odd territories than that of their mentors. It is as if they took the MORBID ANGEL formula, jacked it up with some NILE, and spiked it all with PCP-laced acid (if there can be such a thing).

I have read a number of reviews of Words Beyond the Veil, that really panned the fellas for taking so much from MORBID ANGEL, but hell... how many death metal bands don't take at least a sip from their deep cup these days? While I am sure MITHRAS are sick of the non-stop comparisons, when the similarities are this blatant, hell, they've no right to complain. I am much more fond of what MITHRAS do than many of my fellow critics, however. The similarities don't make MITHRAS less relevant because where MORBID ANGEL pushed the envelope in death metal, MITHRAS push the envelope in MORBID ANGEL. More dissonant, schizophrenic, and even (dare I say it?) FASTER. There are parts on these albums, especially Worlds Beyond the Veil, that you just plain would not hear on a MORBID ANGEL record because they don't (or have yet to) go that far out there. For example, the gloriously insane guitar work that kicks in 1:14 into the title track and the reverb-dripping solo work that carries the entire song out.

Death metal has been fucked in every hole over the past decade. Gorguts proved that there are still new things to do with the genre with Obscura. MITHRAS prove that you can take what one of the most extreme bands of all time have done and make it even MORE extreme which, in my opinion, is a hell of an accomplishment.

Besides, I think we all can agree that Heretic was a bit of a let down. Worlds Beyond the Veil is a good place to get your fix.- Al Kikuras

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