Swedish edition of the Dutch death metal act's 1989 album.Roadrunner.
CD Reviews
I have a consuming impulse to listen to this a lot...
robotiq | UK | 04/08/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Pestilence played blistering, vital death metal for one album only. This is a bracing, poisonous record, mixing the uncontrollable extreme thrash of 'Reign in Blood' with the detuned pummelling of 'Scream Bloody Gore'. Deranged screams of audible agony bellow out macabre portraits of death, whilst maniacal, torturous leads are threaded through punishing hypnotic rhythms.
Foremost, this is an intense, frightening experience to numb the senses, but it also possesses surprising subtlety. 'Consuming Impulse' is actually far more progressive than the overly calculated 'Testimony of the Ancients'. The songs here are dense, complex, and make creative use of keyboards and effects; the break in 'The Trauma' showing a clear precursor to Norwegian Black Metal. Of course, it is also far more entertaining; 'Out of the Body' is utterly incredible. Four and a half minutes of unrestrained chaos, a string of devastating riffs and solos, with lyrics matching the harrowing cover art.
The production is perfect; clear but tough and jagged, perfectly capturing the band's old school thrashing fury inside a barrage of newfound death metal heaviness. This gives it a harsh feel that sets it apart from the muddier sounds of their Florida contemporaries. `Consuming Impulse' is more relentless than 'Leprosy', more intricate than 'Deicide', more consistent than 'Slowly We Rot' and more fun than 'Altars of Madness'. If Pestilence had been from Florida, this would be in your collection already."
Why did these guys break up?
Brian Nallick | Mpls, MN | 06/06/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With so much garbage music out there today, it would be refreshing to see a Pestilence reunion.
As for Consuming? Fast, heavy, brutal, MEMORABLE!!!
Great production for its time. Amazing vocals,guitars,drums.
Nice keyboard parts thrown into a few songs for added atmosphere.
In todays metal world every band seems obsessed with who can play the fastest and most technical. Yawn. None of these bands seem to care about writing good,memorable music with atmosphere.
There are no weak tracks on this disc.
A must have for extreme metal fans, and one of the best albums the genre has produced."
A welcome kick to the head
Kevin W. Connerty | 01/18/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you're looking for swift, unrelenting, well produced death/thrash metal..look no further. Although I am a big fan of Testimony of the Ancients this disc has a much rougher, tougher edge with little sacrificed for sound quality. For fans of early Demoliton Hammer or early Death...I believe this too be Pestilences most aggressive effort on recording."
Wow
Earcandy | 04/14/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is really intense, that is, if you're a fan of amazing thrash metal. Unlike most thrash metal, there are so many varying elements that keep the music switched up, yet in a constant state of high gear at the same time. For example, the drumwork - though staying somewhere inside a generic pace of the music, vary's unline most thrash metal drumwork. Slow down's, speed up's... all of it. The vocals are a little bit strange to get used to, but once you get completely in key of the vocalist, you won't be able to put this album down. The guitar work is somewhat generic, but very technical, and quite fast, 2 things that are a little hard to merge into one band. The bass is mixed pretty well for being a 1989 release (which happens to be my birthdate). All in all, you're looking at an amazingly original, and a highly entertaning thrash metal release. BUY IT!!"
An Overwhelming Assault
Feathers Fell | 253 | 08/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Pestilence's second album, "Consvming Impvlse" (as it says on the cover haha), is a vicious swarm full of energy and riffs. It crosses the line between the thrash assault they had with Malleus Maleficarum and the beginnings of death metal that was carried on by Death, Obituary, Possessed and the like. Nonetheless, "Consuming Impulse" is a must have for fans of either genre. The riffs are nothing short of amazing, whether it would be that speedy intro to "Dehydrated" or the trademark riff on "Out of the Body", there is plenty of them to be found on this album. The solos will also bring a smile to your face if you love them fast and blistering. However, if there is anything else that this album deserves, it's the vocal delivery by the legendary Martin Van Drunen. His tortured cries only enhance everything that was splendid on this masterpiece. This is nothing short of amazing; this is an overwhelming and destructive assault and, in my opinion, the pinnacle of Pestilence's career."
