Search - Malevolent Creation :: Fine Art of Murder

PAINFULLY UNDERRATED

Devin Wilson | Grove City, PA | 03/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"as the title says, this album is painfully underrated. a lot of people ignore it or forget it when they think of brett hoffman's work with MC, but it's in my top 3 favorite malevolent creation albums. the drumming (Dave Culross) is amazing and the guitar (Phil Fasciana, SUPRISE!) is brutal yet melodic and catchy. it's brett hoffman so you almost can never go wrong with that, and it's just a very very good album that everyone needs to hear."

Quite a Fine Art.

Gunther Haagendazs | Up High in the Trees | 10/18/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Malevolent Creation returned with Brett Hoffman once again on vocals. Once Jason had departed from bass and vocal duties, whom better then take over the voice of Malevolent Creation then the original front man with his unique growls and lyric style. Brett Hoffman has always been the true form of Malevolent Creation with Jason coming in at a second and honestly I don't care too much for Kyle's vocals (the current vocalist). Anyways, Malevolent Creation's revolving door policy continues to this day. Brett would only last for one more album, Envenomed; before finally getting kicked out of the band for good.



The Fine Art of Murder is rather experimental, there are two slow songs (the Title Track and Fracture), a Ballad with Death Metal vocals (Day of Lamination), plus there is this rather dry sounding distortion with the guitars. That may not be the best way to say it, but if you hear the songs, you'll know what I mean; there is a rather unique sound from the guitars. Some people complain about the strange keyboards on the title track, but I say, if in the end the effect works, then use it. The keyboards are not a major element to the song other then setting the tone or atmosphere at the beginning and end. Honestly I don't see why some people complain about it. Those are probably the people who don't care for the strange remixes found on Joe Black. As for the ballad that is acoustic half the time; Day of Lamination is a great song. I often imagine a demon sitting on a rock gazing down upon an earth with people have been laminated with plastic and blood in which he helped create and asking himself, "is this right?"



It's a great album, but there is one major problem. There are hardly any solos. Guitar solos can only be found on Bone Exposed, Purge. And Fracture. This is very strange for a death metal band. There are several excellent songs here like Manic Demise, Rictus Surreal, Day of Lamination, etc. that could have been perfected if they only threw in a memorable solo or two. This is what prevents me from giving this album the five star rating.



Well definitely a great death metal album from Malevolent Creation. They always seem to deliver something good no matter whom is in the band. Definitely something to check out as it is one of the few albums with Brett Hoffman that is still in print. Roadrunner Records better re-release and remaster The Ten commandments, Retribution and Stillborn one of these days. Well pick up a copy and sit back and enjoy, or crank it and headbang to the Malevolence.

"