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Kreator - Phantom Antichrist - 85%

1/13/2014

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Definitely a step up from their previous release entitled "Hordes of Chaos", this release is heavier and way more aggressive thrash metal played with utmost intensity. I'd say it's about as good as "Enemy of God", but nothing tops "Coma of Souls". However, these guys flourished during the 80's (1985) and then went to hell during the 90's, then came back with vengeance with "Violent Revolution". Here the lead guitar work is much more well played out plus of course rhythms that are definitely original with a combination of tremolo picked riffing plus some fretboard chaos. A solid production definitely with an even keel of mixed tempos, but overall plainly original.

45+ minutes of brutality and mixture of thrash with some clean guitar playing. However, most songs are heavy and filled with monumental distortion and utmost speed. The riffs themselves are wholly well constructed. Mille's vocals have never changed and they fit well with the guitar and intensity. This album is just so much more enthusiastic with riff-writing frenzied guitar featuring amazingly fast frets played with vigor. A great one to pick up and a Kreator release that can't be outplayed. I really think that this is a monument because it's so aggressive and catchy.

Some clean tone guitar exhibited here, however, mostly what is gripping are the distorted riffs. A lot of it reflects the past with all of the aggression and utmost originality. I dug most of the guitar on here because it's played with precision. These guys don't fool around when it comes to belting out fury in their music within the genre of thrash metal. This is definitely what they play their best. The leads are definitely much better than on "Hordes of Chaos". They don't overdo it with them either. The bulk is within the rhythm guitar work. Much better played than their predecessor.

The music is the highlight of this release. It contains all elements of metal and they mix up some songs with a bit of clean tone guitar. Not the whole album is wholly aggressive, just most of it. Mille sounds extremely pissed off here which fits well with the distorted guitar work. A lot of their lyrical topics have been exceptionally interesting to me, just the music and the vocals. The recording quality here is phenomenal. Everything is well mixed in there. The quality here is exceptional and everything flows diligently. The bass guitar could have been a bit louder and that's my only complaint.

If you want an album that is fast and furious, thrash metal galore, and just overall a plain original sounding and awesomely well played out, "Phantom Antichrist" hits home with vigor. You'll find everything here so balanced out. The lead guitar, rhythms, clean tone melodies, great chorus pieces, and mastermind production sound, this album is for you. I didn't think too highly of it until I listened to it maybe 4-5 times. Then everything to me seemed to fit into place. Again, nothing tops "Coma of Souls", but this band really makes a dent in their discography meaning that it's an album that hits home in all aspects.
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Old Man's Child - Revelation 666 - 85%

1/13/2014

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It fathoms me as to why this release didn't get the praise it deserves. Galder, the main man behind the band fueling out the vocals, guitars and synthesizers rips it up on all departments. The rhythms seem to fall into place in every way. Nothing bad to say about the album. It features guitar riffs that are a combination of bar chords galore fitting the music quite well alongside aggressive tremolo picked riffs with blast beating drums. The music on here is entirely original sounding and well keyed in synthesizers that augment the guitar. Sounds like Galder tunes to standard on here, but I could be wrong.

The vocals are quite unique and no variation whatsoever, though that doesn't mean they're bad, it just means that there's no variety in them. It's pure harsh throat outputs with riffs that are also wholly original and I would conclude that this release is better that "The Pagan Prosperity". That would be because of the production quality plus the progression of the band, mainly Galder getting better with his musicianship. Don't expect anything but brutality on this melodic black metal album. I'd say that the 8 tracks here there is no boredom or monotony. 

Guitar is gripping here and the synthesizers help augment the melodic black metal riffs. They don't drown out the music whatsoever. The production sound is way better than "The Pagan Prosperity" and the music is catchier, at least to me that is. I think that Galder really improved dramatically since Old Man's Child's debut. He has not cashed in like other bands, he's still producing albums that are given top notch ratings. I'm eager to get more of their releases since it seems as though fans of this melodic black metal band have been giving each succeeding releases high ratings.

I would have to say that I fully enjoyed the music on here. It's aggressive, original, catchy, memorable, triumphant, and amazingly played out. I think that the only thing that should have been left out are the brief lead guitar. All of the rhythms are awesome though especially the melodic riffs combined with the bar chords. The synthesizers make the release sound darker. Galder's vocals seem to have a tad bit of echo to them which pans out perfectly with the music. There's a lot of blast beating on here mixed with various other tempos. Aggressive as I've said and entirely played with precision.

If you're into bands that also play melodic black metal like Naglfar, I'd say that you'd also conclude that "Revelation 666: The Curse of Damnation" is well worth picking up. Amazing that they never changed their style of music over the years. Galder has been in other bands such as Dimmu Borgir. But I think Old Man's Child stands alone in it's genre and plays melodic black metal that is totally and utterly triumphant. Even though this release dates back to 2000, I still give it praise and dishes out music that's totally awesome. No cashing in, just pure devastation to the eardrums. Pick this one up!
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Arch Enemy - Rise of the Tyrant - 90%

1/13/2014

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Aggressive, melodic, original, awe-inspiring, dripping with hatred, and wonderfully executed. My past dislike of Angela has dissipated and there are no more ill feelings towards her taking over in the vocal department with Johan fired for reasons unknown to me. Nevertheless, I'd have to say that this album is way better than "Doomsday Machine" and very much thought out more lyrically and musically. A great production sound and just pure furious hatred spewed forth alongside Michael Amott's melodies accompanied by his brother's incredible leads with utmost technicality. There were no real parts on the album that didn't dissuade me from liking the release.

Loved the ongoing heavy guitar riffs which (I think) are B or C-tuned and solid. Tremolo picked frenzies along with melodies that are just rampant and miraculously composed. The vocals went well with the music and everything seemed to fit here. Varying degrees of tempo changes, but not very drastic. Michael just flexing out that wah-pedal with precision. This album brings me back to the days of "Black Earth" and "Stigmata" minus Johan. It's taken me literally years to accept the fact that he's no longer with the band and it's okay now that I hear Angela over Johan. I suppose that they really chose her because her aggression was far more than his.

There aren't any tracks that I dislike on this release, it's heavy pretty much all the way through. A great turn for the band and it's like reliving the "Wages of Sin" era, which I think isn't as good as this one even though my previous contention was that it was the only release I could tolerate with Angela doing the vox. But I suppose that fans didn't lose interest in the band and they continued to grow musically and getting a mixing/production gem-like in precision with no real flaws that I'd conclude with. A true damn heavy melodic death release and their best album in years.

The whole album has a combination of 3-4 different guitar variants: thick/chunky rhythms, some clean bits (but not many), wah-pedal melodies along with the chunky guitar bits. They really take the music and fire off some unimaginable songs that just own you. The technicality is there too, especially Christopher's lead work. Michael writing pretty much the most of the music/lyrics and Angela belting out heavy throat that turns the AE melodic death into a more extreme metal, death like in nature. Way more all encompassing than Johan ever was. I've heard the talk about the "sex sells" the music referring to Angela, but my view is now to a point to where I see it working with her.

If you have been following AE and have this, you'll probably conclude that like me this is their best release in years. With Christopher out of the band now and their latest "Khaos Legions" dismay, you'll find that this one is their last great effort. I'd conclude that the first 4 albums are monuments and this one belongs in the monuments section as well. If you lost interest in the band when Angela joined, give this one a try because you'll find all of the makings of a great album here triumphantly. A definite gem, emotion filled with Michael's amazing melodies mixed in with Angela's fury that keeps them in "heavy" mode accompanying the great guitar work here. Own it!
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