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This band can
do no wrong! Despite losing guitarist Tim Calvert and continuing on as a four
piece, this band is as strong as ever. The hooks on this CD dig deep running
the gauntlet from brutality to beauty. Warrel Dane's voice is in top form, the
guitar talents of Jeff Loomis are simply breathtaking, the drumming by Van
Williams is as usual intricate and not simple patterns and Jim Sheppard's bass
lines are pumped out with a fury.
I'm not too much into the down-tuned 7-string playing style but Jeff Loomis
proves that this stereotyped sound can be shaped into something bordering on
genius and totally NEVERMORE! I dunno why he used the 7-string on every song
though. He could of used some standard tunings and 6-string guitars as well. It
does give the album a "feel" and it is not muddy sounding or leaning
anywhere towards those unmentionable trendy bands who use the 7-string beasts.
The CD begins with a flashback to their CD The Politics of Ecstasy with the
intense song "Narcosynthesis." "Inside Four Walls" begins
with a total ass kicking riff which sounds very cool with the mixture of open
string and pull-off notes. Not a typical sounding riff at all but it will have
you wanting to bang your heard from the start. The chorus on this track has
some very nice melodic twists. Lyrically this one gets into the political
spectrum. It's not hard to tell that Warrel is quite bitter about the justice
system. "The River Dragon Has Gone" has a solo on it that elevated my
already high opinion of Jeff Loomis's lead playing. I really like the part
where the lead is doubled up...insane! There is also the emotional elements
that can be heard in the amazing and deep "The Heart Collector." The
upbeat track "We Disintegrate" has a hint of Warrel's Sanctuary vocal
style with some pretty high signing. I think he should of done more of the song
like it though cause it's awesome!! I miss that aspect of his singing. He
should mix that into his style a bit more rather then abandon it entirely.
"The Sound of Silence" - has what I'll just call a godly intro!!
Killer riffing, some tasty double kick drumming done very originally. The
riffing on parts of this song is borderline death metal! The album's title track
starts out with a bass and vocal intro that they record with an effect to make
it sound like it is coming from an old record player. The song then slams in
with a very intense riff. The chorus is total Warrel - what a melody line! How
does he come up with this stuff? Vocal god indeed!!
Every song on this CD has something in it that blows my mind - whether it be a
vocal melody, a guitar solo, an excellent drum pattern, etc. I've had this CD
stuck in my player for a few weeks now and I can't get the songs out of my
mind. This band are steadily climbing up to the top of my list of favorite
bands...there is no stopping this band!!