Genre: Symphonic/Technical Death Metal
Country: Italy
Label: Nuclear Blast
Year: 2011
Review:
Italy's brutal/symphonic horde, Fleshgod Apocalypse, have returned with what I think is their definitive epic masterpiece, Agony. Having being only their second full length album, the amount of buzz I had been hearing about this album was enough for me to check it out. Their unique blend of technical death metal with symphonic elements have quickly made them a favorite in my extensive music library. After watching a few live performances of them online, and seeing that they can actually pull their songs off live, I see now that they truly mean business.
Agony is ten tracks of total, unrelenting fury. The five men that comprise this group obviously have more than enough skill and talent with their instruments, as one can tell from every track reaching as high as 300 beats per minute. What I'm saying is, this album is one of the fastest albums I have ever heard. I mean we're talking faster than Nile and Behemoth combined. Kicking off the album is the blindingly fast song The Hypocrisy, where in all honesty my first reaction to it was, "Wow! They actually did it! They have perfectly melded brutal/technical death metal with symphonic extreme metal!". I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I have been looking for a band like this for many years and always being let down.
My personal favorite aspect of this band/album isn't just the orchestrations, but Paolo Rossi. He is Fleshgod Apocalypse's bassist/clean vocalist. He really reminds me of ICS Vortex from Dimmu Borgir. Paolo sings in a very high register and his voice is incredibly powerful. He reminds me of an extreme metal opera singer. My favorite songs have to be, The Egoism and The Betrayal. The only track that does not follow the "holy crap that was fast!" formula is the closing title track, which is a soft piano composition. Every track is loaded to the brim with orchestrations and symphonic elements and they are truly masterpieces!
Fleshgod Apocalypse is pushing some major boundaries with this album, and Agony is one of the must-have albums of 2011.
5/5
-A
Give It a Listen!
Genre: Viking/Folk Metal
Country: Netherlands
Label: Napalm Records
Year: 2012
Track List:
1. Een Nieuw Begin
2. De Toekomst Lonkt
3. Het Verbond met Rome
4. Wapenbroeders
5. In het Woud Gezworen
6. Veleda
7. Als de Dood Weer Naar Ons Lacht
8. Einde der Zege
9. Vrijgevochten
Review:
Wow! When I first listened to this album I couldn't do anything else but bask in this truly epic gift of music. I am a huge fan of folk/Viking/pagan metal and have a pretty good idea what I like and don't like in it and this album hit all the right marks. I've listened to Heidevolk for the past couple of years and I finally think they found their sound!
Continuing a similar approach to their previous albums, I feel Batavi proves to be much more resolute and aggressive than ever before. First the vocals. I seriously can't get the vocals out of my head they are that good. The characteristic clean sound of both Heidevolk vocalists is far more superior this time around and the harmonies they produce are truly haunting and beautiful while the war chants are just plain epic! Folk melodies and lyrics build the foundation of each track while the guitars are dense and heavy with a nice full tone to them. Drums are tight, thundering, barbaric, and numbingly fast at some points. The production quality is next to none. There is no mud in the mix, especially with Peter Tägtgren, (lead guitarist/vocalist of the death metal band Hypocrisy) at the mixing helm.
Kicking off the album is the song "Een Nieuw Begin", my personal favorite. A true tour de force itself, it prepares you for the folk/Viking metal album that is Batavi. Unfortunately, there are no other songs that stand out to me mainly because every other song on the album is a masterpiece, as if throwing you directly in the middle of some ancient battle between Vikings and Romans.
With music in the vein of Amon Amarth, Týr, Turisas, and Moonsorrow , it is sure to please anyone who calls themselves viking metal fans!
5/5
-A
Give It a Listen!
Genre: Viking/Folk Metal
Country: Finland
Label: Spinefarm Records
Year: 2012
Track List:
1. Symbols
2. In My Sword I Trust
3. Unsung Heroes
4. Burning Leaves
5. Celestial Bond
6. Retribution Shall Be Mine
7. Star Queen (Celestial Bond Pt. II)
8. Pohjloa
9. Last Breath
10. Passion, Proof, Power
Review:
Ensiferum's most recent effort, Unsung Heroes is again nothing short of beautiful, epic and different. I have been listening to Ensiferum since day one and have enjoyed every one of their albums. With Unsung Heroes being their fifth studio album I had pretty high expectations for it and in all honesty it did not impress me like their previous efforts, at first that is. At first listen the first thing I noticed was the lack of drums in the mix. This is fast, loud barbaric metal for goodness sake! Turn up the drums! Know what I mean?! After that brief coffee fueled thought, I was immediately taken away to that old familiar place this wonderful band takes all of its listeners. With the lyrics and music themed after Finnish legend and fantasy, battles and folklore it is easy to be taken away to a different more beautiful world.
Unsung Heroes kicks off with the song Symbols, a beautiful musical arrangement giving you a preview of the depth of the musical journey to come. It immediately flows into the powerful sing-a-long epic, In My Sword I Trust. I find this particular song very reminiscent of material off of their first album. Now, I'm not going to go into detail about every song on the album, I personally can't stand that. I will though point out a few of my favorites on the album. The song, Celestial Bond, is quiet, innocent and beautiful. A very nice touch to the middle of the album. Then there is the song, Retribution Shall Be Mine. This song is fast and very speed metal like with a wonderful sweeping chorus with choirs and strings. Then comes my personal favorite on the album, Pohjloa. Words can not even begin to describe how beautiful and epic the chorus is in this song. Well, maybe one word, perfect!
Unsung Heroes may not be Ensiferum's most powerful album to date but it is still Ensiferum we are talking about here. Full of beautiful music and lyrics it is sure to please any folk metal fan. The true kings of viking/folk metal reign on!
4/5
-A
Give It a Listen!
Hello and welcome to my new blog! The main purpose of this blog will be music and movie reviews. I am very excited to share my thoughts and opinions with you about two passions in my life. I hope you enjoy the reviews to come!
-A
