Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Eighteen Visions - The Best of Eighteen Visions (2001)
Having made a massive leap from the poor Yesterday is Time Killed to the mighty Until the Ink Runs Out, Eighteen Visions decided to revamp the material before their breakthrough album. Their initial plan was first conceived after their debut was released to re-release that album and the EP Lifeless in a single disc. Ultimately, they re-recorded what they thought are the best songs from those out-of-print releases and the entire No Time to Love EP.
Whew, I'm glad I made that above description so anyone unfamiliar with the band wouldn't think this is either a compilation of songs or an original album. The re-recordings actually give the songs more strength than the originals, helped out by much better production. Only one new song appears, and that's the first track of the album. The reason the band gave it the album title The Best of was in case they don't make it big, but that's where they are now, probably big enough to make an actual compilation. This amazing album shall be worth getting in touch with the band's roots from their first 5 years of activity.
"Motionless and White" is the one new song to begin the album. It's so interesting how one of my favorite metalcore bands Motionless in White is named after this song from another one of my favorite bands. Not just any band, but one versatile enough to inspired a new legion of the genre! This song is not really the best from this band though, and that's a shame because it sit rights between the crushing heaviness of Until the Ink Runs Out and the serene melody of Vanity. Now it's time to revisit those metalcore memories in "Russian Roulette with a Trigger Happy Manic Depressive" (often shortened to just "Russian Roulette"), packing some powerful punches. You would've expected the melodic clean singing of that new song, though SPOILER: there's none. Nothing but screamed vocals and the occasion spoken passage, something to remind some of Poison the Well. "The Psychotic Thought" sounds a lot more psychotic in the re-recording than the original, having a bit of the heavy side of Miss May I. "An Old Wyoming Song" leans more into a bit of the mathy metalcore Vein.fm would have a couple decades later.
"Slipping Through the Hands of God" serves as a kick-A intersection between the hardcore of Strife, a bit of the melody of The Ghost Inside, and some slight experimentation of Code Orange. "Diana Gone Wrong" strikes hard with technical breakdowns. As does the brutal "Raping, Laughing, Tasting, Temptation".
"Five 'O Six A.M. Three/Fifteen" has the ravaging devastation of Zao and guitarist Brandan Schieppati's other band Bleeding Through, maybe even Bring Me the Horizon's debut Count Your Blessings in the more deathly moments. "Life's Blood" almost stirs up the deathly technicality of Atheist. One of the best songs to showcase James Hart's screamed vocals in "Isola in the Rain". Finally, "Dead Rose" is the band's heaviest way out and my favorite here. Even those most unfamiliar with the band would love it.
The original releases are no longer in print, but thanks to the internet, you can track them down in the blink of an eye. On the other hand, The Best of Eighteen Visions has beaten those releases by far with these re-recorded tracks. This is my second-favorite 18V album behind Until the Ink Runs Out, and it would've been perfect if not for that first song which, while still heavy as f***, leans too much into the Vanity/Obsession era. Where would fans of the band and genre be without this "Best of" offering? Still it's not for the most casual listener, so anyone new might wanna start small with a few songs. Then if you're up for more, enjoy the ride!
Favorites: "Russian Roulette with a Trigger Happy Manic Depressive", "Slipping Through the Hands of God", "Five 'O Six A.M. Three/Fifteen", "Isola in the Rain", "Dead Rose"