Reviewed - 11/05/05
Intra
[Candlelight Records]
When I first discovered Ram-Zet's "Escape" in 2002, it was an album unlike anything I had heard before. I drew comparisons to extreme metal bands as diverse as Meshuggah, Cradle of Filth, Lacuna Coil and Darkane, but the truth of the matter was that Ram-Zet had created their own sound, more unique than they were beholden to the influences of others. The music was simultaneously brutal and melodic, rhythmic and technical, dark and uplifting. It was magnificent.
This is no less true for "Intra," the band's third album. There is simply no other band that sounds like Ram-Zet. And while "Intra" does not stray from the juxtaposition of sounds featured on "Escape," it does boast enough development to keep things from growing stagnant.
If I had to compartmentalize the music of Ram-Zet, I would classify it as being a variation of melodic death metal. Most of the vocals on "Intra" are harsh or growled, though the presence of a lead female vocalist and backing female vocalist temper abrasiveness with sultry melody. Tri-vocal dynamics are merely one of Ram-Zet's defining factors. Harmonized female vocals, contrasts between harsh and clean, and nigh-epic choruses all keep things interesting, while the inclusion of occasional electronic vocal processing illustrates some progression from "Escape." There is also more of an emphasis on female vocals, as Sfinx (lead female vocals) comes to the forefront as a vocalist equal to Zet (lead male vocals, as well as lead guitarist). But that is as far as the similarities with most contemporary female-fronted metal go. Ram-Zet is not the sort of band that uses sex to sell albums or woo goth fanboys. The dichotomy (or trichotomy) of vocals on "Intra" are important, but never at the exclusion of the music.
The guitars are thick and meaty, as well as a bit dirtier than they were on the last album. "Escape" was a tight, almost clinically clean album. "Intra" is much more organic, retaining a sense of taut musicianship but also injecting a strong sense of humanity into things. There is more anger, and more energy. Things move along at a rapid rate, sometimes going so far as to be considered "thrashy" or even dropping into a black metal blast beat or two ("Born"). The mathematically-complex atonal riffs and blindingly fast arpeggios remain present, but they are given added weight by contrast. And then there are long, repetitive riffs that bludgeon the listener repeatedly and exhaustedly… and not in a bad way, either. There is something about taking a short crunch riff and playing it thirty times, only to follow it with pianos and the female voice ("And Innocence").
Another juxtaposition of sounds that adds to Ram-Zet's duality is a combination of electronic keyboard sounds and an authentic violin. Ram-Zet embrace the analog and digital with equal abandon, and the result is a remarkably-successful two-pronged attack. Some fabricated sounds are ambient, adding an artificial wash underneath otherwise chaotic rhythms. Other times keyboardist Magnus introduces odd sounds or textures in order to diversify a song. At the same time, violinist Sareeta (also the secondary female vocalist) tempers the synthetic with her own organic strings, playing simple melodies overtop atonal riffs or even harmonizing with herself to create neo-folk passages or one-woman orchestral sections.
On occasion, "Intra" will lapse into ambient, ethereal non-metal passages, as if the listener were struck with narcolepsy and thrust headfirst into a dream. Other times it will bash the listener's skull in violently and without remorse via cacophonous metal. From beginning to end, this is a remarkably diverse album, and such variances of sounds and influences are not for the musically faint of heart. But it all congeals beautifully, resulting in a sound that may bear similarities to more than one subgenre of metal but never adheres solely to one or another.
I cannot believe that I have yet to track down Ram-Zet's debut album, "Pure Therapy." Nevertheless, two out of three Ram-Zet albums have completely blown me away. "Escape" was one of the best releases of 2002, and I expect "Intra" to be one of this year's top choices. Both albums are similar enough in sound that those who fell in love with Ram-Zet's second album will doubtless develop a similar relationship with the band's latest. Yet, there is enough evolution that there is virtually no chance of overplaying Ram-Zet's characteristic sound.
Brutality, technicality, originality, and dark beauty all melded together into one album. What more is there to say?
[Candlelight Records]
When I first discovered Ram-Zet's "Escape" in 2002, it was an album unlike anything I had heard before. I drew comparisons to extreme metal bands as diverse as Meshuggah, Cradle of Filth, Lacuna Coil and Darkane, but the truth of the matter was that Ram-Zet had created their own sound, more unique than they were beholden to the influences of others. The music was simultaneously brutal and melodic, rhythmic and technical, dark and uplifting. It was magnificent.
This is no less true for "Intra," the band's third album. There is simply no other band that sounds like Ram-Zet. And while "Intra" does not stray from the juxtaposition of sounds featured on "Escape," it does boast enough development to keep things from growing stagnant.
If I had to compartmentalize the music of Ram-Zet, I would classify it as being a variation of melodic death metal. Most of the vocals on "Intra" are harsh or growled, though the presence of a lead female vocalist and backing female vocalist temper abrasiveness with sultry melody. Tri-vocal dynamics are merely one of Ram-Zet's defining factors. Harmonized female vocals, contrasts between harsh and clean, and nigh-epic choruses all keep things interesting, while the inclusion of occasional electronic vocal processing illustrates some progression from "Escape." There is also more of an emphasis on female vocals, as Sfinx (lead female vocals) comes to the forefront as a vocalist equal to Zet (lead male vocals, as well as lead guitarist). But that is as far as the similarities with most contemporary female-fronted metal go. Ram-Zet is not the sort of band that uses sex to sell albums or woo goth fanboys. The dichotomy (or trichotomy) of vocals on "Intra" are important, but never at the exclusion of the music.
The guitars are thick and meaty, as well as a bit dirtier than they were on the last album. "Escape" was a tight, almost clinically clean album. "Intra" is much more organic, retaining a sense of taut musicianship but also injecting a strong sense of humanity into things. There is more anger, and more energy. Things move along at a rapid rate, sometimes going so far as to be considered "thrashy" or even dropping into a black metal blast beat or two ("Born"). The mathematically-complex atonal riffs and blindingly fast arpeggios remain present, but they are given added weight by contrast. And then there are long, repetitive riffs that bludgeon the listener repeatedly and exhaustedly… and not in a bad way, either. There is something about taking a short crunch riff and playing it thirty times, only to follow it with pianos and the female voice ("And Innocence").
Another juxtaposition of sounds that adds to Ram-Zet's duality is a combination of electronic keyboard sounds and an authentic violin. Ram-Zet embrace the analog and digital with equal abandon, and the result is a remarkably-successful two-pronged attack. Some fabricated sounds are ambient, adding an artificial wash underneath otherwise chaotic rhythms. Other times keyboardist Magnus introduces odd sounds or textures in order to diversify a song. At the same time, violinist Sareeta (also the secondary female vocalist) tempers the synthetic with her own organic strings, playing simple melodies overtop atonal riffs or even harmonizing with herself to create neo-folk passages or one-woman orchestral sections.
On occasion, "Intra" will lapse into ambient, ethereal non-metal passages, as if the listener were struck with narcolepsy and thrust headfirst into a dream. Other times it will bash the listener's skull in violently and without remorse via cacophonous metal. From beginning to end, this is a remarkably diverse album, and such variances of sounds and influences are not for the musically faint of heart. But it all congeals beautifully, resulting in a sound that may bear similarities to more than one subgenre of metal but never adheres solely to one or another.
I cannot believe that I have yet to track down Ram-Zet's debut album, "Pure Therapy." Nevertheless, two out of three Ram-Zet albums have completely blown me away. "Escape" was one of the best releases of 2002, and I expect "Intra" to be one of this year's top choices. Both albums are similar enough in sound that those who fell in love with Ram-Zet's second album will doubtless develop a similar relationship with the band's latest. Yet, there is enough evolution that there is virtually no chance of overplaying Ram-Zet's characteristic sound.
Brutality, technicality, originality, and dark beauty all melded together into one album. What more is there to say?
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Tracklist:
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| Rating: 9/10 | |
| Release Date: 2005 | |
| Length: 53:33 | |
| Review By: F. Justin Ossmann | |
| Total Reviews: (1) | |
| Bands Website: Go Here | |
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