| ||
Track Listing: Rated: Total Play Time:  |
Okay, I had first been introduced to Poland's native sons, Vader, back around the "The Ultimate Incantation" era and was decently impressed, but not amazed. Then I heard "Art of War", the band's EP from earlier this year and I was utterly blown away! Not since Bloodbath's "Breeding Death" have I been so floored by a release and by a death metal band's sheer power in just a couple of tracks! So, naturally, I sought out more Vader and now they have me for life. Still, I am fair and give honest reviews of what I hear (no one loves Venom more than me, but the new one just falls flat for me) so I'm giving my assessment as I'm hearing it.
The first track," "Between Day and Night" is an intro that kicks right into "Shadowfear", which hits as fast and steady as "This is the War" from the EP. I have a really good feeling about this CD if it remains as consistent as the first song…. "As Heavens Collide" kicks the crap out of me so far and I love it! There's a breakdown in the middle that is just so damn heavy it hurts! It's brutality at its best, my friends! Peter's vocals are haunting when they need to be and over-the-top insane at just the right points! "Helleluyah (God is Dead)" sounds like a badly-titled Venom or Cradle of Filth track, but…let's see. The opening wall of sound aptly provided by a keyboard is damn evil sounding and suddenly bashes your ears with the verse "God is dead!" screamed with conviction; it is definitely not at all humorous or "light". Wow! Great time changes halfway in really give the song an old school feel that is not dated in the least. This song is amazing! (After hearing the whole CD, this is my favorite track!) "Field of Heads" carries the typical Vader structure of double bass blistering throughout the room (as it is at this writing). Another mid-track breakdown followed by the Vader guitar/drum assault doesn't ever get boring for me. The end has a tribal-like vibe with a haunting tone heard in the background that possibly went on just a tad too long, but I can live with it! "Predator" opens with a keyboard bells/orchestral intro and kicks into the dual guitars competing for supremacy. It sounds awesome so far. The heavy crunch of Mauser and Peter's guitars show the true use of power chords! It's a slow, brutal feel that proves a million miles an hour doesn't necessarily make death metal "death". The guitar solo mid-track is damn good that fits perfectly. This song has a real methodical structure that feels "80s" but doesn't die there, if you know what I mean. Great track and a welcome switch! "I stand strong and fierce! / I am so mighty, I am so dark" "Warlord" kicks you right in the face after the slowdown from Predator. It slips right from booming speed into the bridge, which slows just enough to let you catch your breath, then it's right back to hell on earth! It sounds like a lyrical jaunt through a battle that makes you feel like fighting! Great track! As I listen to "Red Code" I'm really thinking this may be my CD of the year! Something this heavy and good should not be kept a secret by the MTV masses, but there's nothing we can do about that in this age. We can be selfish and horde such great music for our own. This has the "Art of War" feel to it as well and if you liked those songs you'll dig this as well! "Amongst the Ruins" reminds me of the movie Gladiator in that lyrically it sounds like Maximus' many battles in the arena. It's another heavy hitter that has moments of sheer evil and rage come to life and lucidity amidst madness – any band that can create images for its listeners with such evenness and ease is a winner to me. "They Live". I never get tired of Peter's "Yes!" or "Yeah" before select tracks ala Tom G. Warrior's famous grunt from early Celtic Frost days. It's a signature of sorts that works every damn time (for me, anyway). "We stand solitary on this world / ice so strong in our veins / generations of men before me / go to speak somewhere inside my words --Here they live / in my blood". Please note I'm going without benefit of lyrics here, but these lyrics are amazing! I'm really impressed with how well Vader composes its lyrics. To end the CD we have "The Book". It starts off almost romantically, assuaging any hope of a real solid ending – yeah, right! The crunch is there, heavy and hard like a trip hammer. Wow, the bridge break is really great! It sounds quite a bit like a "deathy" Black Sabbath ala "Into the Void", though I'm by no means comparing the two – I'm merely giving you a general feel to what it sounds like to these semi-trained ears. Overall, I'm thinking that this is one of the CDs of the year for me (right up there with the Ihsahn release)! I'm impressed so much after being a bit nervous about its release. "Art of War" was just so brilliant and so amazing that usually a band falls a bit flat or short when they try and follow it up. I can honestly say if you like Vader as I do you'll enjoy the hell out of this release. The only problem I have is a selfish one that harkens back to my "Reign in Blood" days: it's not even 40 minutes…but I'll take 37 minutes of solid music as opposed to 60 minutes of crap! I'm positive you'll agree. Vader is one of the best death metal acts I've heard and I'm glad they're still kicking around after all of these years. Real metalheads never throw in the towel after not becoming millionaires – they continue to create and subjugate! The boys from Poland (my mother's motherland) have done it again…what a relief!! | |
