illusionist's Reviews
Best Melodic Black/Death ever, will pierce your soul like a burning arrow
My favorite metal album of all-time. Outwits, outcrafts, outmuscles all of its peers from the 90s Scandinavian black/death scene. There's not much to say except that every song is the complete package of what makes this type of music so spellbinding. Sinister yet melancholic guitar melodies, frostbitten chord progressions, soul-piercing screams, tight and impactful drums, gorgeous acoustic interludes, and ambitious / all-around epic songwriting. This album is truly a breathtaking experience and it is one I will likely always cherish.
Best of the best: A Land Forlorn, Heaven's Damnation, In The Cold Winds of Nowhere
Genres: Black Metal
Format: Album
Year: 1993
Death Angel makes a strong statement
Surprisingly good! My favorite of the modern era of Death Angel. They hadn't sounded this fresh the 80s and haven't again since. Their mid-tempo thrash riffs and snarling vocals are at their crispest here, and they also take a few risks that pay off like on the story-oriented "Opponents At Sides" - a song that feels more 'epic' with its longer run time and clean vocal sections. Perhaps overstays its welcome with 3-4 songs I consider filler, but there's an ample helping of great stuff here! Recommended if you enjoy some good 'ole thrash/heavy metal with an angry bite to it.
Highlights: Absence of Light, Opponents at Sides, This Hate, Truce
Genres: Thrash Metal
Format: Album
Year: 2010
Oh, baby. All of these tracks, yes - all of them, are brimming with unique and energetic riffs, phenomenal drumming, and stellar production.
But lots of great Death Metal albums have these qualities, you say! So what sets Symbolic apart even further? What gives it crossover appeal to listeners outside of usual Death Metal fans? That would be an ear for songwriting/composition to match any of the Rock greats, intelligent lyrics about society with easy-to-understand harsh vocals, and an overall genuinity not commonly seen in Death Metal.
But back to those riffs. Chuck Schuldiner is a true Guitar God because he did something really difficult: over the course of the Death discography, he developed his own sound and style of riffing that is immediately identifiable to HIM. On this release, Schuldiner refines his craft to a new level of potency.
This is the pinnacle of Death and a monumental album in progressive metal and death metal.
Genres: Death Metal
Format: Album
Year: 1995
I don't get the hype. Sounds like a completely average post-black/blackgaze album. There some interesting sections and cool melodies here and there, but for the most part none of tracks manage to be memorable or evoke any strong emotions. Sunbather is not bad by any means, but I've heard this sort of thing done much better by other bands, like Woods of Desolation.
Genres: Black Metal Post-Metal
Format: Album
Year: 2013
I remember checking this album out with excitement because I love fantasy-themed heavy metal and I was drawn in by the amazing album cover. It looked like serious shit was about to go down between the knight and the skeleton, and I wanted to hear the soundtrack to the duel! Safe to say, the music didn't quite live up to its art. King of the Dead is a stale and outdated fossil of 80s metal. This premise would be executed better by other bands like Manilla Road, Coven (US) and even modern retro bands like Visigoth.
Genres: Heavy Metal
Format: Album
Year: 1984
Secret Message
I'll get straight to the point. It's urgent. Wart-infested alien cyborgs from the murkiest of swamp planets have decided to use death metal as the vehicle for their invasion of Earth. As you listen to this album, mechanical seeds silently worm their way through your ear canals, leaving behind a trail of gelatinous green ooze. Once they penetrate the innermost recesses, they implant themselves. The biomechanical seeds hatch and a foul pus-like moisture spreads, feasting upon the warm white matter of your brain. As the riffs, mechanically precise yet oozing with organic slime, captivate your mind, the seeds infiltrate your conscience. The aliens' gurgling laughs, chants and moans fill your thoughts. You think it is just part of music. Suddenly, as the methodical music reaches a climax, you can't help but let out a deep, primal croak. You are now one of them. Infected. Like me. You now serve the will of our hidden masters: to spread the parasite by exposing as many homo sapiens as possible to the otherworldy sounds of Chthe'ilist by writing reviews on RYM. The invasion has already begun.
Genres: Death Metal
Format: Album
Year: 2016
I enjoy the lyrical concept of this album, its storytelling, but it just doesn't live up musically. There are a total of two great songs that make me want to re-listen on a regular basis (The Lake, Gods of Thunder...). The rest range from shaky to meh to decent. This is in stark contrast to its peers Hammerheart and Twilight of the Gods, where nearly every single song is noteworthy. Good for one listen or two, but wouldn't return to this album in its entirety or recommend it to anyone but Bathory completionists. Definitely listen to the two songs I highlighted though.
Genres: Viking Metal
Format: Album
Year: 1996
Avenged Sevenfold's most boring, sterilized and soulless release to date. They phoned this one in, folks.
It's basically a C-rate Black Album fused with a Guns N Roses cover band, with none of the fun quirks and creative songwriting that made Avenged Sevenfold interesting in the past. The band says they have "progressed", but what they really did was take the easiest, safest path.
The only track I legitimately enjoyed was "Planets", yet the only song I hated was the title track. Most of these songs aren't particularly terrible, they're just bland and completely unremarkable.
Genres: Heavy Metal
Format: Album
Year: 2013
DEAD ON DOPE!
I really want to give this a higher rating, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Don't get me wrong, the first two songs are extraordinary. Like, among the very best this genre has ever produced. The presence of "The Swarm" alone makes me want to 4.5-star this. "What is evil but good, twisted by its own hunger and thirst?" But alas, it just wouldn't be right.
The Red in the Sky Is Ours, With Fear I Kiss the Burning Darkness, Slaughter of the Soul...these are albums worthy of my vaunted 4-star threshold. They are true albums. They each have their own subtle but unique defining feel to them. Their songs flow, like they were meant to be played together. They are not flawless, but they are filled with standout moments from front to back. That primal & passionate At The Gates essence flows throughout, naturally.
Terminal Spirit Disease does not feel like an album. It feels like At the Gates were being rushed by their record label. It feels like they had 2-3 great songs worth of material they were thrilled with, but then had to quickly come up with more to fill a full album. Hence the distinct drop in memorability after the second track. Also hence the pointless live recording tacked onto the end to meet minimum runtime. "And the World Returned" is an evocative acoustic intermission, but you get the feeling that it too was thrown in to fill space. Of the back three tracks, "Forever Blind" is the one most worth coming back to - but it doesn't hold a candle to "The Swarm" or the title track. There's a skeleton of an amazing song there, but it feels half-baked. Which summarizes my overall stance on the album. This could've been a stunning all-time classic if At the Gates had taken the time to really hone those songs more - and develop a few more actual new songs.
It's disappointing because the sound they play here sits so perfectly between that of the early albums and Slaughter of the Soul. I love both styles, but they are pretty different. Terminal Spirit Disease is a delightful blend of the two...if only there was more fully-baked material here for me to really sink my teeth into. Oh well, at least Terminal Spirit Disease gave us two immaculate compositions, which is more than most albums can claim.
Genres: Death Metal
Format: Album
Year: 1994
Back, but not quite better than ever
The first three times I listened to B.A.C.K., my mind immediately started humming "Khomaniac" and "Beneath the Clay" riffs afterwards.
...Yeah. That about sums it up.
There are some fun techy thrash jams here like "WWW", "Cybermind" and "Theatrical Exposure", but this album/band still can't escape the monumental shadow of By Inheritance. At least B.A.C.K. is still more entertaining and memorable than albums that would come after it.
Genres: Thrash Metal
Format: Album
Year: 1999
As soon as the bouncy, eastern-flavored intro ends and the breathtaking first epic guitar line of "Khomaniac" kicks in......Artillery grips you by the throat and doesn't let up until the very end. A constant barrage of razor-sharp riffs that cut at your face mercilessly. Even the ballad, "Don't Believe", kicks a lot of ass. The nasally vocal tone may turn some people off, but I personally love it.
Each song is well-written, tight, and brimming with character. Artillery has a knack for writing great little intro melodies to many of the songs that hook you in too, like on "By Inheritance" and "Bombfood". Great solos, great everything all around. Simultaneously technical and melodic to the max, THIS is excellence in thrash songwriting. By Inheritance is Artillery's career-defining masterpiece and an absolutely landmark album for any thrash fan.
Highlights: Khomaniac, Beneath the Clay (RIP), By Inheritance, Bombfood, Don't Believe, Life in Bondage
Genres: Thrash Metal
Format: Album
Year: 1990
This album is decent, but isn't anywhere near the same league as the follow-up, By Inheritance. Go listen to that one first.
That said, you can definitely hear hints of the brilliance to come for Artillery. The title-track has some riffs that flat-out rock. "Therapy" and "At War With Science" are also highlights because of their ruthlessly technical yet memorable riffs and blazing solos. Some of the other tracks are more or less filler though.
Besides the fact that the songs simply aren't as good, the muddy sound and awful artwork also prevent Terror Squad from reaching the heights of Artillery's best album. If you like what you hear on By Inheritance (and any metalhead must), THEN come listen to this one for some sloppy seconds.
Genres: Thrash Metal
Format: Album
Year: 1987
Underwhelming
As well-produced and competent as their previous few albums. The symphonic orchestrations make everything big and epic. Unfortunately, the songs just don't quite live up to their sound. The writing feels really underdeveloped at times, especially with jarring transitions and disconnected sections like in the closer. These songs just makes me miss the compelling and heartfelt melodies of Soulless Child or the speedy fun of the first album.
Genres: Power Metal Symphonic Metal
Format: Album
Year: 2019
I'm glad Amorphis re-invented themselves again after this, but that being said, I still think FFtS is a really good album. I see it as the pinnacle of the "middle years" of Amorphis' career, with more variety and catchy songwriting than Am Universum or Tuonela. Not a great starting point if you're getting into this band, but worth owning for fans. "Planetary Misfortune" is an insanely fun psych-folk groove, "Mourning Soil" rocks, and "Smithereens" is brooding, atmospheric closer.
Genres: Progressive Metal
Format: Album
Year: 2003
Might just be one of the best and most atmospheric melodeath albums of all time. Amorphis combine a lot of influences here (death metal, doom, 70s prog, Finnish folk) that all unite to form a rich, dark atmosphere that grips you from the first note. Melodic and insanely memorable riffs, deep and resonant growls, tasteful keys, epic lyrics. Don't miss the "Moon and Sun" bonus tracks, which are true highlights.
Genres: Death Metal
Format: Album
Year: 1994
Just good. Not great.
With Jerry Cantrell still involved, everyone knew this album would at least be competent. This album is "good" in that there are a few keeper tracks ("Check My Brain", "Your Decision" and "Take Her Out") and that it manages to avoid any disasters, but that's about as much praise as I can give Black Gives Way to Blue. It doesn't hold a candle to Facelift or Alice in Chains, let alone Dirt.
Genres: Alternative Metal
Format: Album
Year: 2009
The dark crown jewel of the "grunge" movement
The songwriting of Jerry Cantrell and the vocals of Layne Staley are what put this album in a league of its own. Cantrell and Staley's crooning vocal harmonies (name a more iconic duo?!?) have made their permanent mark on rock history. "Would" and "Down in a Hole" truly represent the wails of a man who has lost hope and feels isolated from the world. Yet, like every song on this thing, they are morbidly catchy. Alice In Chains then mix in lots of metal and even doom influence to give their music a darker edge than their grunge contemporaries. Though a huge mainstream success, this album has something real and emotionally intense about it. A thick, spiteful, gloomy atmopshere prevails.
Genres: Alternative Metal
Format: Album
Year: 1992