Hate Eternal - Phoenix Amongst the Ashes (2011)

Genre: Death Metal

Release Date: May 10, 2011

1. Rebirth (1:17)

2. The Eternal Ruler (3:10)

3. Thorns of Acacia (4:29)

4. Haunting Abound (5:00)

5. The Art of Redemption (4:42)

6. Phoenix Amongst the Ashes (5:42)

7. Deathveil (3:31)

8. Hatesworn (4:48)

9. Lake Ablaze (4:29)

10. The Fire of Resurrection (3:57)

Hate Eternal's music is like a fine wine: it gets better with age.  For the veteran death metal act this is their fifth album, since their formation in the late 1990s, and I can comfortably say it is their best release to date.  Phoenix Amongst the Ashes combines all of the best elements of Hate Eternal's repertoire and packages it into a brilliant and brutal 41 minute audio assault.  What can I say?  Eric Rutan (Hate Eternal guitarist, vocalist, and producer) is a musical genius and this is one of the best death metal albums of 2011.

The album kicks off with the marching introduction track "Rebirth", which quickly gives way to the fast-paced brutality of "The Eternal Ruler".  These songs give you a taste of what the rest of this album is going to be like: a declaration of war on your ear canals (but totally in a good way, I promise).

"Thorns of Acacia" and "Haunting Abound" are also amazing tracks.  I particularly like the groovy introduction of the latter song, which weaves along until the double layered vocal track cuts in: "haunting abound!!!!"  I have a link to the official youtube audio stream of that song below.

Haunting Abound

"The Art of Redemption" is another interesting song that has a fast-paced cacophonous tremolo picking riff, which leads into more blistering dissonant sections throughout the track.  I could say more about it, but I'll let the audio do the talking for me.

The Art of Redemption

My favorite track from the album is actually the one which is the most simplistic from a technical standpoint, "The Fire of Resurrection".  It's not always technicality that makes death metal music great.  Sometimes simple riffs that provide a moody atmosphere can be all you need.

 The  Fire of  Resurrection

Everything we've come to expect from Hate Eternal - furious drumming by Derek Roddy, dissonant guitar riffs, punchy bass, and intense guttural vocals from Eric Rutan - is present on Phoenix Amongst the Ashes and taken to new heights.  In my opinion, this album tops I, Monarch and other great releases from Hate Eternal.  We can only expect more great things are to come from these death metal legends in the future.

Final Rating: 9.5/10

3 Favorite Songs from the Album: The Eternal Ruler, Haunting Abound, The Fire of Resurrection

Decapitated - Carnal is Forever (2011)

Genre: Technical Death Metal

Release Date: July 12, 2011

1. The Knife (4:31)

2. United (5:24)

3. Carnal is Forever (8:49)

4. Homo Sum (4:33)

5. 404 (5:08)

6. A View from a Hole (6:11)

7. Pest (3:36)

8. Silence (4:18)

Decapitated’s fifth studio album, Carnal is Forever, is a landmark album for a number of reasons.  It is the first album they’ve released to feature a photographic image as the cover, as opposed to artwork made from scratch.  It also is their first album to feature clean guitar parts.  Most importantly however, Carnal is Forever represents the comeback album for Decapitated after the tragic death of their drummer and founding bandmate, Witolk “Vitek” Kieltyka, in 2007.

Vitek passed away after sustaining serious injuries in a bus accident while Decapitated was on tour in Belarus.  He was only 23 years old.

After Vitek’s death it was uncertain whether Decapitated would continue on or not.  Vitek wasn’t simply a band member – he was also the brother of lead guitarist Waclaw “Vogg” Kieltkya, who formed the band with Vitek in 1996 when they were just kids (Vitek was 12 and Vogg was 15).  Vitek was one of the centerpieces of Decapitated, both musically and personally, and he would be very difficult to replace.

Vitek was 15 years old when Decapitated recorded Winds of Creation

Decapitated went on hiatus in the aftermath of this tragedy.  Adrian “Covan” Kowanek, Decapitated’s lead vocalist since 2005, left the band during this period of disbandment.  He also suffered major head injuries in the 2007 tour bus accident and was even in a coma for a period of time.  His slow recovery and the hiatus led him to leave Decapitated.  He’s now the lead vocalist for the death metal band, Atrophia Red Sun.  In addition to this, bassist Marcin “Martin” Rygiel exited the band, leaving Vogg as the only remaining member.

In 2009, Vogg announced that Decapitated would indeed continue on to make music and he recruited a new team of musicians to work on new material.  The result of this process is Carnal is Forever.

The Knife

When I first heard the album preview that was posted on the internet early this summer, I was really excited to hear the record in its entirety.  The best way I can describe my feeling when I was actually able to hear all the tracks on Carnal is Forever is by way of parallel.  I felt like I had just seen a preview to what appeared to be a really hilarious movie, only to find out that all the best jokes had been included in the trailer. 

This judgment is probably a little bit too harsh.  It’s not as big of a letdown as the new Morbid Angel release (which was just a bad album).  I just set the bar a little too high.  I expected a death metal masterpiece but was greeted by a good album instead.  There are some really good tracks on this record, like “The Knife” and “404”, but there are also some weak spots that left me a little disappointed.

United

While I really like the punchy distorted guitar sound Vogg uses on this record, a lot of the riffs end up sounding the same as the album progresses.  There aren’t as many memorable riffs as one would expect on a Decapitated release.  There are some really cool guitar licks and interesting measures, but much of it blends together over the course of the record.

Decapitated also features clean guitars in their music for the first time on this album.  I like that they’ve decided to bring that to the table.  Unfortunately, they don’t really do anything all that intricate or inventive with it.  It’s mostly just there to provide atmosphere and at times sounds boring (as it does in the middle of the title track, in my opinion).  The best use of clean guitar is on the song, “Silence”, which is completely void of distorted guitar work.

Silence

One of the uses of clean guitars on the record

The new drummer, Kerim “Krimh” Lechner, is pretty good but he’s certainly no Vitek.  He has a speedy brutal attack and good timing, but so does a thousand other death metal drummers in the music world today.  In other words, Vitek's drumming skills are noticeably absent on this record.

The general direction of this review has been kind of negative, so I just want to take a moment to say that Carnal is Forever IS a good album.  It’s just not on the same level as some of Decapitated’s previous landmark releases, such as Nihility and Organic Hallucinosis (not to mention their debut album, Winds of Creation).  That being said, Decapitated has had to overcome a lot since the loss of Vitek.  It’s not easy to create a new album after the passing of one of the most skilled death metal drummers to have ever lived, not to mention the departure of all band members except for one.  I think Carnal is Forever is a good tribute to Vitek’s memory and I’m happy to see that Decapitated is marching forward even after suffering such tribulations.  I think the musical foundation they've created with this record will be built upon with better records to come down the road.  I'll patiently wait to see what Decapitated does next.  They will be headlining a North American tour with Decrepit Birth and Fleshgod Apocalypse this fall, so definitely go and see them live if you get a chance.

Final Rating: 8.5/10

3 Favorite Songs from the Album: The Knife, United, A View from a Hole


Author's Note:  This album has grown on me a lot over the past few months the more I've listened to it.  I think my first rating of 7.5 was too low, so I've changed my rating to an 8.5/10 (March 2, 2012).

Fleshgod Apocalypse - Agony (2011)

Genre: Technical Death Metal

Release Date: August 9, 2011

1. The Temptation (1:47)

2. The Hypocrisy (5:31)

3. The Imposition (4:38)

4. The Deceit (6:03)

5. The Violation (4:19)

6. The Egoism (6:22)

7. The Betrayal (5:31)

8. The Forsaking (5:37)

9. The Oppression (6:04)

10. Agony (3:34)

Fleshgod Apocalypse is back and better than ever with the release of their second full length studio album, Agony.  This album has everything fans have come to expect from the Italian death metal act – insane drumming (well over 200bpm at most times), fast-paced guitar work, incredible guttural vocals (with the occasional high register clean vocals provided by bassist, Paolo Rossi), and orchestral elements to provide atmosphere. 

Fleshgod Apocalypse now has a full time keyboardist, Francesco Ferrini.  The result of his inclusion is the band can employ more orchestral and keyboard parts in their compositions.  Whereas orchestral elements previously only added a bit of color to FA’s songs, they have now become an integral part of all the tracks on this new record.  In my opinion, they pull it off really well (blending keyboards with a brutal death metal assault isn’t exactly the easiest thing to execute).

Music Video for "The Violation"

(they dress like this when they play live shows too)

Personally, it is the drums that really make Fleshgod Apocalypse stand out from other bands in the genre.  Francesco Paoli is one of the most exciting death metal drummers out there today.  His precise blast beats, motoring double bass attacks, and involved fills provide an intense backdrop to FA’s music.  Without Paoli’s relentless drumming, I think Fleshgod Apocalypse would be just a good band.  Paoli takes them to the next level and makes them a great band.

The Egoism

Agony truly represents a major step forward for Fleshgod Apocalypse and demonstrates how well they’ve honed their musical attack.  I still listen to the Mafia EP (2010) more than I listen to Agony, but overall I have to say that this release is the best work they’ve put out so far.  I’m very excited to see where Fleshgod Apocalypse goes next.  They’ll be touring North America this fall with fellow death metal stalwarts Decrepit Birth and Decapitated.  Be sure to check them out if they come near you, because they are a great live act as well!

Final Rating: 9.5/10

3 Favorite Songs from the Album: The Violation, The Egoism, The Betrayal

Vale of Pnath - The Prodigal Empire (2011)

Genre: Technical Death Metal/Melodic Death Metal

Release Date: August 9, 2011

1. Legacy of Loss (5:27)

2. Mental Crucifixion (5:27)

3. Brain Butchers (4:42)

4. The Prodigal Empire (3:11)

5. Borne Extinction (5:43)

6. Poisoned by Prosperity (2:33)

7. Time of Reckoning (3:56)

8. Sightless (4:36)

9. Cerulean Eclipse (6:00)

I first heard about this band (via Allegaeon’s Facebook page) on the day this record was released.  Anytime I hear about a new or “up and coming” technical death metal band I get very excited.  Technical prowess is one of the biggest reasons I am drawn to death metal, and let me tell you, Vale of Pnath has no shortness of technical instrumentation in their compositions.  

The Prodigal Empire is the first full length album by the Denver technical melodic death metal outfit.  For those who have heard their 2009 EP, this record builds on the sound they created on that release and takes it to a whole new level.

Mental Crucifixion

(really cool riff around 4:49)

This is the best album I’ve had the pleasure of listening to so far this year.  It has everything that one could want in a technical death metal record: intricate guitar work, melodic elements, a brutal drum attack, heavy bass to complement the mix, and a solid interchange between black and death metal vocals.  Oh, and with lyrics inspired by the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Total Recall, what’s not to love?

"Start the reactor"

In my opinion, the pinnacle of the album is the last three tracks that close out The Prodigal Empire.  “Time of Reckoning” begins with a marching guitar riff that continues without pause alongside the backbeat of the drums and bass.  Eventually, towards the middle/end of the song, melody begins to cut through the mix.  The last half of this song is truly beautiful and any fan of melodic death metal should love it.

“Sightless” is the most brutal of the last three tracks.  I won’t even ramble on about it here.  Just go listen to it for yourself (link below, of course).

Time of Recknoning

Sightless

Every so often I listen to the final song on a record and think to myself: “that was the best song they could have written to end this album”.  “Cerulean Eclipse” is a perfect conclusion to The Prodigal Empire.  It is an excellent representation of all the best elements of the album – especially in terms of technicality and melody.  The riff that cuts in at roughly 35 seconds into the track is my favorite guitar part on the whole album.  Everything that follows thereafter is mind-blowing as well.  I dare you not to like this song.

Cerulean Eclipse

I strongly recommend The Prodigal Empire to any fan of death metal music (particularly those who like technical or melodic death metal).  It is an absolutely brilliant record that has been in my regular listening rotation for weeks (and will probably remain there for many weeks to come).  Vale of Pnath represents one of the brightest spots in American death metal today and I am excited to see what they’ll bring to the table in the future.  Hopefully, they’ll go on tour soon and play their awesome brand of death metal all over the country.  GO CHECK THEM OUT NOW!!

Final Rating: 10/10 

MASTERPIECE

3 Favorite Songs from the Album: Mental Crucifixion, Time of Reckoning, Cerulean Eclipse

NEW Abominable Putridity Songs Posted on the Internet... Album to Be Released Soon

The Anomalies of Artificial Origin

Coming Soon!

Three tracks from the upcoming Abominable Putridity record, entitled The Anomalies of Artificial Origin, have been posted on the internet.  And let me tell you - they are absolutely brutal.  The music sounds much more refined and just better overall than AP's last release, In the End of Human Existence.  I've included the links below, so check them out!  I'm really excited to hear the whole album.

The Last Communion

Lack of Oxygen

Remnants of the Tortured

In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading (2011)

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

Release Date: June 15, 2011

1. Sounds of a Playground Fading (4:44)

2. Deliver Us (3:31)

3. All For Me (4:31)

4. The Puzzle (4:34)

5. Fear is the Weakness (4:07)

6. Where the Dead Ships Dwell (4:27)

7. The Attic (3:18)

8. Darker Times (3:25)

9. Ropes (3:42)

10. Enter Tragedy (3:59)

11. Jester's Door (2:38)

12. A New Dawn (5:52)

13. Liberation (5:10)

I never know what to expect any time a new In Flames release drops on the market.  This band has altered their sound so many times over the course of their career, and not always for the better.  So, needless to say I was skeptical of the new album, but I was still excited to hear some new In Flames songs.

In my opinion, In Flames’ new style of melodic death metal (if you want to call it that) reached its’ maturation on their last album, A Sense of Purpose (2008).  It wasn’t the embodiment of the Gothenburg sound that In Flames’ helped to shape in the 1990s, but it was still a very good metal album.  There were many memorable riffs and melodies (“The Mirror’s Truth”, “Sleepless Again”, “Alias”, etc) and it achieved a melodic sound without sacrificing an abrasive death metal attack.

Sounds of a Playground Fading is the tenth studio album by the Swedish death metal legends In Flames.  It takes the sound that they formed on A Sense of Purpose (2008) in a slightly new direction.  More work went into writing and producing the guitar parts and the vocals have been stripped down.  It is a deliberate move towards a softer and less abrasive In Flames sound.

Sounds of a Playground Fading

This new release is essentially a weaker version of A Sense of Purpose.  Most of the vocals are clean or only slightly distorted.  The growling vocal style is completely absent on the record.  Also, the guitar parts sound way over-produced and none of the riffs are all that memorable.  The drums and bass are pretty run-of-the-mill as well and nothing really stands out.

"Ropes" is a track that sums up the style of music on Sounds of a Playground Fading.  Overproduced guitar work is abound in this track alongside Anders Friden's clean vocals.

Ropes

The overall sound of the album has a more mainstream feel to it, though I don’t feel as though it was created as a deliberate move towards the mainstream.  Newer In Flames fans who like Come Clarity or Soundtrack to Your Escape will probably be pleased with this release.  Older In Flames fans who like The Jester’s Race and Whoracle will probably be disappointed.  It’s definitely soft for an In Flames release, but if that’s what you’re into then by all means pick up the album.  Ultimately though, I feel like there's nothing outstanding about this record.  After listening to all the songs from Sounds of a Playground Fading, I’ve decided not to download it.

Final Rating: 6.5/10

3 Favorite Songs from the Album: Where the Dead Ships Dwell, Darker Times, A New Dawn

Morbid Angel - Illud Divinum Insanus (2011)

Genre: Industrial/Death Metal

Release Date: June 7, 2011

1. Omni Potens (2:28)

2. Too Extreme! (6:13)

3. Existo Vulgore (3:59)

4. Blades for Baal (4:52)

5. I Am Morbid (5:16)

6. 10 More Dead (4:51)

7. Destructos vs. the Earth/Attack (7:15)

8. Nevermore (5:07)

9. Beauty Meets Beast (4:56)

10. Radikult (7:37)

11. Profundis - Mea Culpa (4:05)

This review is probably not going to break any new ground.  A lot has already been said on the internet and in the press about Morbid Angel’s new album, Illud Divinum Insanum.  Nonetheless, as a death metal fan, I felt the need to chip in my two cents on the latest release from one of the most famous death metal bands of all time.

If you’re a fan of Altars of Madness or Blessed are the Sick (or really any Morbid Angel release prior to this one), then this album will most likely be a massive disappointment for you.  I certainly know it was for me.  Before this much anticipated release, David Vincent and Trey Azgaroth had said they were taking the new material in a different direction.  I don’t think anyone could have foreseen that this would be the result though.

Illud Divinum Insanum is the first Morbid Angel album to come out since 2003 and it is a swift departure, to say the least, from the death metal assault the band is famous for.  Industrial influences and techno played a major role in shaping the sound of this record.  Instead of blast beats, face melting guitar riffs and guttural growls, listeners are met with drum machines, electronic keyboards and rapping.  The death metal styled parts that appear on this record feel like simply an afterthought, as if they were just added for the sake of representing the band’s roots.

The album starts off with a choral intro song, “Omni Potens”, which could have set the stage with an eerie introduction to any death metal release.  But then, instead of cutting into a brutal death metal track, the listener is met with “Too Extreme!”.  This song is pretty much Morbid Angel’s new sound in a nutshell.  I’ve included the song below:

Too Extreme! (not really....)

When there is actual death metal drumming on the album and not drum machines, it’s really tight and awesome.  I have to give much credit to session drummer Tim Yeung (who was on Hate Eternal’s first album and is involved in a number of other projects). This was the first Morbid Angel release not to feature Pete “The Feet” Sandoval, who had back surgery while the band was recording.  Sandoval, being one of the most well respected death metal drummers out there, has some pretty big shoes to fill.  It’s just a shame that Yeung had to be dragged down with the sinking Morbid Angel ship, because he really is a talented drummer.

The vocals are really weak in comparison to other Morbid Angel albums.  I suppose during his time in the industrial band Genitorturers, David Vincent forgot how to sing death metal vocals.  He ends up sounding like a poor man’s version of Fear Factory’s Burton C. Bell.

The most controversial song on the album is probably "Radikult", for a variety of reasons.  The song opens up with Vincent repeating "kill a cop, kill a cop, kill a kill a kill a cop" over the drums and bass.  No, this isn't the latest N.W.A. release.  It's actually the new Morbid Angel.  "Radikult" is another great example of how they've changed their overall sound on this record, so I've also included that track below:

Radikult

“Blades for Baal” is really the only likeable track on the album.  It is pretty much a straight death metal song.  Still, it only stood out to me because the rest of the album is pretty crappy.

Blades for Baal

To those who are praising this release for its experimentation, let’s remember that experimentation isn’t necessarily a good thing in and of itself.  Michael Jordan left the NBA to play professional baseball, but he was a mediocre baseball player at best.  No one was praising his subpar batting average simply because he was a basketball legend experimenting with baseball.  The same holds true for this record.  Morbid Angel has experimented with mixing industrial music and death metal, but they’ve done a poor job of it.  In the end, both the industrial sections and death metal parts come off as weak.  Illud Divinum Insanum IS an experiment, but it’s a failed experiment.

Hitler Reacts to New Morbid Angel Internet Meme

Honestly, Illud Divinum Insanum is only worth a listen just to hear and understand what it’s like.  Other than that, there is no value or redeeming quality for it as a Morbid Angel release.  This album is going to go down in history as Morbid Angel’s St. Anger or their Chinese Democracy.

Final Rating: 2.5/10

3 Favorite Songs from the Album: ...........