My first impression: generic.  After listening to it a few more times I'd say that it's actually a step up from "The Quantum Enigma".  It's more thrash oriented guitar work alongside Simone's beautiful voice and her symphonic liking of the orchestrated staff on-board.  I like the fact that this one is heavier than its predecessor.  The more guitar mixed with it makes them seem like their most thrash/symphonic/power metal.  The leads on here again are wicked!!  I like how they've seemed to balance everything on here.  You get the best of all worlds in Epica's songwriting.  I never took a peak at their lyrics I'd have to say that the music is what's drawn me more towards this band.  The fact that Simone seems to sing on here more makes it even better to listen to than just orchestration galore.

I think that they did a good job arranging this album which makes it a better fit in their overall sound.  Being an ex-guitarist keys me into the music more so.  There are times where there's aggressive male throat but not as much as Simone's voice outputs.  She really contributes a lot more to the band now instead of bits and pieces here and there the fact that she's on here more makes it better overall.

I'm so really impressed with the guitars, I couldn't be happier with them.  Even though there's still a lot of orchestra, they've stuck to their roots in that respect but just got heavier.  The fact that other people have rated this one better than their last album makes me happy that this is not my first impression.  It's my current thought that they've done themselves justice.  Simone is dazzling here.

If it were my choice, I'd cut out the orchestra and keep it with just guitar, drums, vocals and a little bit of keys.  But that's merely my contention.  Otherwise, they performed great on here!!  Support the band and pick this one up.  If you're curious, check YouTube, but if you like it don't simply settle with YouTube, buy the physical copy of the album!!  Keep the metal alive continually!!

Rate: 90%.

Reviewed By Death8699 ([email protected]). 
 
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More of a "blackened death metal" sort of release rather than utmost "death/doom metal" on here.  I think out of the 2 Asphyx albums that I own, this one has to be the better.  I say that for many reasons.  First of all, the production is solid and everything is well heard.  The musicianship is much better here than previous albums.  It's got a "thrashy" tinge to it as well.  But overall, I'd say this is a solid death metal album.  I'm not in agreement with dubbing this release as an average rating.  The guitars are just ripping, thick, heavy and catchy.  That's another reason why I'm thinking this is one of their best releases in a while.  The intensity is there and the vocals are all pretty much deep throat.  That hasn't changed with the band.  They're still way underground.  The aura is grim as well.  I haven't gone through the lyrics, but I'm convinced that their concepts in writing words for their releases are very dark.  I can appreciate the music more than anything.  This remains my favorite from them.

A lot of people are illegally downloading music and won't buy the physical CD's.  This keeps musicians nowadays poor.  They may be writing music for the sake of writing or for their fans or both.  But really people, this album is worth getting!!  It has so many interesting portions to their songs it really amazes me.  Their tracks aren't too fast, but faster than the other album of theirs that I have.

Really though, the guitars aren't raw, but somewhat thick and heavy.  But yeah, like I said they're more "thashy" than what I'm used to from this band.  All different kinds of tempos and song lengths.  The only unchanging thing are the vocals.  It's more like a combination of death/scream like type of vocals,  It suits the music rather well.  It remains to be heavy and being on Century Media is a good label.  It takes them a step up from lesser known labels with more raw sounding types of productions/mixing.  This one here is very well orchestrated.  This producing has done the band justice.
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Try some songs if available on YouTube if you decide to buy this afterwards.  But I took a chance and bought it anyway.  I was hearing good things about it.  Rightfully so, it's a kick ass release that you can't get sick of even if you play it ad nauseum.  Support the band and if you don't like it even after this gets published, I'll eat my words.  It's a boon to the metal world.  Enjoy!!

Rate: 90%.

Reviewed By Death8699 ([email protected]).
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A follow-up from their "Dark Roots of the Earth" release and I think this one is better.  It's catchier, better produced and more diverse.  Chuck Billy has some hoarse throat here mixing his old style of metal voice with a death metal sounding one.  Pretty cool for a thrash release.  I just think that this album has more substance to it than its predecessor.  I enjoyed all of the songs.  Of course, to me "First Strike Still Deadly" is my favorite Testament re-recording.  But this is a monument too.  It's well laid out.  On here they're playing heavy guitars, but yeah catchy and thick.  I think after 4 years went by since a release they keep their longtime fans like me.  They're not compromising and staying true to their roots.  Production quality is exquisite definitely.  Everything is well heard.

I'm not much into the band's lyrical concepts, the most that I'm into are the more philosophical lyrics of Death (the band).  I just enjoy the music and here it's heavy, but bluesy based too.  That would be Skolnick's influence but the heaviness of the album keeps it in a whole other level.  They play from the heart and have never I don't think have ever compromised themselves. 

The guitars are what keeps me interested even though I'm retired from playing I enjoy their energy and riff structure.  It's technical and fast.  Of course the whole deal meaning the whole band contributes to this one.  They really busted ass to get this out to fans.  You have to like Chuck Billy's vocals to really like the band though.  I think he's pretty awesome kicking butt all thees years that Testament has been around.  That is, mid-80's.  A lot has changed technology wise and the Internet interfering with musicians money making because so much is on YouTube or Spotify.

I don't agree that this is an average album at all.  I think because of the intensity and unique songwriting quality, Testament has released their best record in a while.  No way is this album boring or redundant.  It's straightforward thrash metal.  Everything about this album I like.  I was impressed the first time that I heard this.  I thought to myself "they're still shredding!!"  Own it!!

Rate: 90%.

Reviewed By Death8699 ([email protected]). 
 
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Well when they were still good.  This is a sad reality when a change towards the virtual mainstream is just to make money.  But I think that with this release their focus was this kind of progressive sort of style which fluctuates between soft melodies to much more deathly ones.  The old Opeth (meaning before the fall) delved into things that they were notorious for: progressive metal fluidity never knowing what to expect from this album.  It has a conglomeration of mood-swings musically and stays with this for the whole album.  Acoustic guitar, clean vocals, heavy guitar, hoarse vocals.  That's what I mean by the "mood-swings" here.  But this was a staple Opeth displayed for years till they lost heart.  Every song on here you don't really know what to expect, heavy or clean?  That's the magic about it.

I think what makes this album good is it's diversity without going completely over-the-top in various modes.  "My Arms, Your Hearse" was another one of theirs that displayed a more solid release than this album.  That remains to be my favorite Opeth album of all time.  I think "Watershed" had a lot to offer as well.  "Orchid" had its moments but as each album came into play more and more changes.

Musically this is not their best, less and less riffs that really stick.  This is a quality album no doubt, but not their best.  I think they've always have been this progressive metal mixture until they just gave up.  Tempos here just mild, they've never been much of a fast paced metal mixture of tunes, but they sure haven't fallen short here.  The material I think was merely at par to about a B-rating.

I'm sure that YouTube has this, I own the physical copy of the CD.  It's worth getting before they changed completely.  Ir'a definitely worth picking up if Opeth of the old is your thing!!

Rate: 85%.

Reviewed By Death8d699 ([email protected]).
 
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Grim, dark, melodic, esoteric, and brutal are just some words to surmise to the essence of this album.  Entombed really had a good follow-up after "Left Hand Path" with this one.  The production is a bit raw and the most notorious things about this release aside from what kind of atmosphere I depicted is that it's really well structured.  All of the instruments are in unison and totally kick ass.  This release may be considered to be a death metal album but it's similar to Dismember's "Like An Everflowing Stream", hence that time period (1990's) had some really awesome releases in the death metal realm.  Entombed shows once again that they'll have no-holds-barred in this album.  Every song is memorable and they never let up in the intensity factor.  Some great tunes here.

There is a tinge of clean guitar moments but nothing substantial.  I cannot believe that this wasn't in my CD collection till as of late.  The album has been in existence for more than 25 years!!  I heard it in the past, but decided to actually do the band and my ears justice by purchasing a physical copy of it, not just simply using YouTube for it.  And what a treat this album is to the listener (me, et al).

The songwriting is straightforward in your face well written music that's uncompromising.  Again I'll say it, what a kick ass follow-up!!  Own this today if you don't already!!

Rate: 100%.

Reviewed By Death8699 ([email protected]).
 
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Totally uncompromising.  This album is brilliant, yet quite heavy as hell.  The riffs are unique Jesse (RIP) on the second guitar just rips.  And Mitch's screaming backup vocals makes the album even more intense.  They put forward what they wanted which was just an annihilation musically going back to their roots, yet more death metal oriented than grindcore.  But still simply awesome.  The musicianship is never to the level of "Harmony Corruption", but still they're kicking ass on this one, no doubt they're hitting no holds barred here.

The intensity of the album is what makes it so Napalm Death!!  They just never let up.  The guitar riffs are awesome.  And remain this way throughout the album.

If you're into death/grind, this one is for you!!  Purchase a physical copy of the CD to support the band!!

Rate: 85%.

Reviewed By Death8699 ([email protected]).
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Check Out My Website: http://www.secret-face.com/