The best thing ive heard all year
Robert Oliver | bear, DE USA | 11/04/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"first and foremost this is my favorite band...period. so you may think this is bias, or maybe you agree. before this came out i was of the opinion that behemoth's evangelion or the black dahlia murder's deflorate was the best thing out this year. even with my bias toward hypocrisy i wasnt sure how they could top those two monster albums. but upon the first listen to this modern classic i was pleasantly surprised to hear not only the best thing of 2009 but, probably the best hypocrisy album yet (even though virus and the "self titled" holds a special place in my black heart).
the only thing i can say about the music itself is, you have to hear it in its entirety. if i say anything else i wont give it an unbias review. but what i can say is before this album i really dug hypocrisy's penchant for mid tempo songs that slowly ground the listener into bloody pulp (how cleche metal is that?) but with this new offering, the bands 11th in case anyone didnt know, they are completely "full speed ahead". at times sounding "black metalish" thanks in part to relative new comer "horgh" reider (of immortal fame). i cant say enough good things about this one, but again im incredibly bias to hypocrisy and to that effect peter tagtren in general, i like pain alot and even his quick black metal outfit the abyss, not to mention his various guest appearances on other records (bloodbath's nightmares made flesh stands out).
i would say that if you like death metal, you need to hear one of the best bands in the genre. this is that band. to quantify that remark, other releases i picked up are: old man's child slaves to the world; insomnium across the dark; the faceless planetary duality; devildriver prey for villains; darkane demonic art; daath the concealers. the only reason i give a sample of my taste is b/c i probably wont write to many reviews past this one, so at least one can gauge the validity of my "review""
A Really Versatile Record From Hypocrisy
Michael | FL United States | 11/07/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When you open the jewel case for the cd, you'll notice the fan dedication on the back of the booklet. Take that as an invitation to destruction as you pop the disc in because as it starts, the band blasts right out of the gates and through the speakers. Peter Tägtgren and co. definitely know how to keep things fresh and heavy, and by making an album such as this that blends a lot of the sounds from their previous albums (Abducted, Final Chapter, Self-Titled, Into The Abyss, Catch 22, The Arrival, and Virus), things are really fresh to say the least. It's almost like a hybrid of all those albums with the production quality of Virus. If you're a fan looking for a little variety from Hypocrisy, this cd is perfect. If you're new, it's a perfect cd to start with."
Another great Hypocrisy release
Emperor Buyer | USA | 11/19/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think this is a superior album to their last three or four. Maybe it deserves a higher score than the four I gave but it's not perfect like The Final Chapter. It is, however, better than almost any metal I've heard this year, definitely on my top ten list. This album is a better investment than the new Slayer. It's crushing in it's heaviness. It has Peter's trademark production. There's also a variety of melodies, and tempos going on here that hold the album together well. Sometimes it's black metallish, and others it's like a Metallica, or Megadeth chorus. Quit buying mall metal and get this!"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1