Search - Malevolent Creation :: Stillborn

To give ANYTHING 5 stars isn't warrented, but

Bud-Nick-Ed | bklyn, ny | 06/09/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"this album does not deserve all the slagging it gets. Stillborn was my first exposure to MC. I was working at a music review mag in NYC in the early-mid 90s, when this cassette came into the office. i was supposed to write a review then. but i only listened to it once and didn't really pay attention... it was death-metal (read: UGH!!).

Anyway, about a year later i was going thru some forgotten music. Stillborn... Malevolent Creation... hmmm. Well, just think about hearing Dominated Resurgency for the very first time. before you've really listened to it? I was big into nyhc in the mid-late 80s, so i'm no stranger to hard-as-nails combat (btw: if you like this album then check out Rest In Pieces - My Rage). all in 1 night's time.

For me, the highlights are DR, Stillborn, Ethnic Cleansing and D o Aborrance. They happen to be the BEST MC songs i've heard to date. I've recently dld'ed 10C and Rtrbtion. I also have Best of and Warkult. Best of really doesn't count, though.

These 4 songs have riffage, groove, changes, synchopation (thanks in large part to Hoffman's lyrical timing).

I think this album is also very well produced, unlike most other people here.

I am not a fan of death-metal as a whole. and there are other types of "metal" that i think are shamefully, pathetically idiotic. I don't know what the heck Everytime I Die is, but i wish they and every last one of those types of sing-songey/screech-fest bands would die. and what the eff is Korn/limpbizkit/i-don't-know-wtf-else. Them and that Phoney, eye-contact/makeup-wearing, poodle-walker of a marilynn-manson.

I mean, wtf? In Flames? Nobody cares anymore. nobody tries. there is no revlolution. we have all been "televized". even the rebelion is wearing clothes from the same chain store, in a suburban mall subdivision. there's the new rebelion age.

I think this album is worth the price just for these songs. and if the others happen to grow on you, then that's good too."

A great album no matter what the detractors say about it

Zander Haberstaft | Miami, Florida | 11/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I will never know why people trash this Malevolent Creation album besides for the production/mixing quality...something which the band has little control over. The band has always acknowledged this was a difficult period for them (read: drug problems) and Brett doesn't have the most stunning vocal performance here but all things considered and especially with the couple of efforts that came after this, "Stillborn" is still a top notch album.



The riffs via Phil Fasciana and the more than competent drumming of Alex Marquez are enough alone to drive the album...and they do. John Rubin is a welcome addition to aid Fasciana (although Rob Barrett was great too) and they create some great guitar riffs and some really well done solos. Brett Hoffmann's vocals aren't as possessed and raspy -downright intimidating!- as they were on "Ten Commandments" or "Retribution" but this is not all Brett's fault. His vocals are mixed in poorly and dominate the background and fade in and out too easily. They're still mostly intelligible, but they sound kinda flat. Scott Burns did them huge production favors on the prior two efforts, but a different production team this time doesn't give the music the same punch. It is way too treble and mid range heavy. The snare has an annoyning click and the cymbals wash out too easily. Blachowicz's bass is virtually inaudible and that only works to take away from the overall sound. Alex's drumming performance is about as stunning as it was on "Retribution" and there is plenty of variety to his drumming (something most Death Metal drummers sadly lack.) Everything from the ultra slow, varying double bass speeds, quick and interesting fills, blasts and double time thrashing always with tons of groove in mind.



There is plenty of tempo variety on this album, all the songs are well written and there isn't a terrible one among them. I think the biggest problem with this album is the dry production (much the same way Suffocation's "Breeding the Spawn" turned out), and the fact that the band would undergo more line-up changes than Spinal Tap in the coming years. Fans would turn on the band until "Eternal" got some to come back, but in retrospect...I think it was the fan's loss that they trashed this worthwhile effort and great band. If you like the prior two albums and anything that came after this, then "Stillborn" is definitely worth checking out."

I...am...still...BORN!!!

Zander Haberstaft | 10/06/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"ok, this is my first malevolent creation album, and i must say, at first i didnt like it at all, considering the production is horrible, and hoffmans vocals are not what they were on their 2 earlier releases,but after giving it more of a listen, i really like it alot. every song on here is good, and catchy. the only song i dont like is "geared for gain." its only a personal opinion. the lyrics are good, and the guitair work is excellent. but, the drummer, isnt too good. he kind of lacks a bit, and doesnt really flow too well. with the exception of the horrible production, somewhat sloppy drumming, and hoffman not sounding how he did on the 2 earlier releases, its really a good album. i like it alot, better that ETERNAL, and i hope to get more brett hoffman-era malevolent creation. peace.."