Jan-Mikaels EARS: Review: Carnival in Coal Collection Prestige
http://harm.us/reviews/showreview.cfm?albID=3868&visitor=0
Evaluation:
What is it?
Dinner music for the damned? John Teshs revenge? Liberace for the libationary? Artwork and packaging reminiscent of the worst of K-Tel, replete with tuxedo bedecked, rose to nose, velvet draped buffoons, smirking like the village imbecile, winking and promising a salacious dalliance. Delicious.
Analysis:
What it is:
I looked at the cover, puzzled, and turned the disc over to read the song list. Cleverly classical font almost masked the sardonic titles. I was confused, but started to see that all isnt what it purported to be. A closer look in to the libretto revealed a roadmap to seduction delicate finger food, a Tiffany egg, a roaring fireplace straight out the soft sounds of the 70s, chocolate, jewels, rose petals, champagne, a poodle with a severed hand in its mouth (!), and, yes, oh my, skyrockets in flight! Afternoon delight! Finally, the graphic portrayal of the culmination of the act ..youll have to see that one for yourself!
I checked the label to make sure that I hadnt inadvertently mixed up my discs, and pressed play.
THIS is what death metal is all about. Tortured shrieks, brutally heavy grooves, distorted bass, apocalyptic keyboard textures: a textbook death metal intro! Carnival in Coal combines death, black, and hardcore vocals with clean singing to tremendous effect, unlike any other band Ive ever heard in this genre. Blast beats, hyper-shred solos, and lyrics that extol the virtues of devotion to a satanic lifestyle (Satanic Disaster), laud their morbid fascination with death and dismemberment (Cartilage Holocaust) and forebode of impending judgment (Delivery Day). Misogyny, often prevalent in gore-splattered music, is strangely absent; CinC opt for misanthropy in general .
Oh did I mention that Collection Prestige is a without a doubt the single most refreshingly snide commentary on metal Ive ever heard? Not a single aspect of this disc doesnt make fun of some hyperbolic, pompous, self-aggrandizing aspect of death or black metal, skewering the image, sound, but most pointedly, the lyrics of the countless bands who propagate their cookie-monster laden drivel with serious intent.
Kazoo fills in Living in the Plastic Age; tap-dancing interspersed with death growls and cartoon music sound effects on the ending of Fuckable; a soprano sample from Mozarts Queen of the Night aria (The Magic Flute) on Ohlala; a socially conscious public service message from the band on Right Click Save As ; and an interminable, histrionic guitar solo ending rivaling Spinal Taps finest work at the end of The Lady and the Dormant Sponge .these are just a few of the elements that showcase CinCs self-deprecating humor and their wicked sense of parody.
None of these devices detract from the flow of the songs, and are integrated into the compositions seamlessly, weaving their demented counterpoint in and out of each piece.
CinC sachet across musical boundaries with aplomb. In addition to their complete mastery of the vocal and instrumental death/black/hardcore delivery, these wacky fellows play blisteringly hot funk-soul (vocals on Fuckable are reminiscent of INCUBUS and Faith No Mores Mike Patton), and dead-on disco (Cartilage Holocaust), but a highlight is the double-time Django Rheinhardt-inspired guitar solo section on Satanic Disaster!
The clean vocals are very well sung and intelligently arranged (the vocal harmonies on Satanic reminded me of an obscure German prog-metal band from the early 90s called Annon Vin), and when CinC get down to business and play it straight, whether its the funk, soul or disco incarnation, the music grooves and swings hard.
Rating: 10+/10 (The plus is for the deftly acerbic lyrics)
Superb: unique concept married expertly with high level of musicianship and lyrical skill; encourages adherence to their viewpoint/philosophy; demands attention and or repeated listens to appreciate fully
Summary: Twisted, heavy, progressive, entertaining and most important when it comes to METAL, doesnt take itself (or anyone for that matter) seriously at all.
Standout tracks: Satanic Disaster, Ohlala, Delivery Day, Cartilage Holocaust.
http://harm.us/reviews/showreview.cfm?albID=3868&visitor=0
Evaluation:
What is it?
Dinner music for the damned? John Teshs revenge? Liberace for the libationary? Artwork and packaging reminiscent of the worst of K-Tel, replete with tuxedo bedecked, rose to nose, velvet draped buffoons, smirking like the village imbecile, winking and promising a salacious dalliance. Delicious.
Analysis:
What it is:
I looked at the cover, puzzled, and turned the disc over to read the song list. Cleverly classical font almost masked the sardonic titles. I was confused, but started to see that all isnt what it purported to be. A closer look in to the libretto revealed a roadmap to seduction delicate finger food, a Tiffany egg, a roaring fireplace straight out the soft sounds of the 70s, chocolate, jewels, rose petals, champagne, a poodle with a severed hand in its mouth (!), and, yes, oh my, skyrockets in flight! Afternoon delight! Finally, the graphic portrayal of the culmination of the act ..youll have to see that one for yourself!
I checked the label to make sure that I hadnt inadvertently mixed up my discs, and pressed play.
THIS is what death metal is all about. Tortured shrieks, brutally heavy grooves, distorted bass, apocalyptic keyboard textures: a textbook death metal intro! Carnival in Coal combines death, black, and hardcore vocals with clean singing to tremendous effect, unlike any other band Ive ever heard in this genre. Blast beats, hyper-shred solos, and lyrics that extol the virtues of devotion to a satanic lifestyle (Satanic Disaster), laud their morbid fascination with death and dismemberment (Cartilage Holocaust) and forebode of impending judgment (Delivery Day). Misogyny, often prevalent in gore-splattered music, is strangely absent; CinC opt for misanthropy in general .
Oh did I mention that Collection Prestige is a without a doubt the single most refreshingly snide commentary on metal Ive ever heard? Not a single aspect of this disc doesnt make fun of some hyperbolic, pompous, self-aggrandizing aspect of death or black metal, skewering the image, sound, but most pointedly, the lyrics of the countless bands who propagate their cookie-monster laden drivel with serious intent.
Kazoo fills in Living in the Plastic Age; tap-dancing interspersed with death growls and cartoon music sound effects on the ending of Fuckable; a soprano sample from Mozarts Queen of the Night aria (The Magic Flute) on Ohlala; a socially conscious public service message from the band on Right Click Save As ; and an interminable, histrionic guitar solo ending rivaling Spinal Taps finest work at the end of The Lady and the Dormant Sponge .these are just a few of the elements that showcase CinCs self-deprecating humor and their wicked sense of parody.
None of these devices detract from the flow of the songs, and are integrated into the compositions seamlessly, weaving their demented counterpoint in and out of each piece.
CinC sachet across musical boundaries with aplomb. In addition to their complete mastery of the vocal and instrumental death/black/hardcore delivery, these wacky fellows play blisteringly hot funk-soul (vocals on Fuckable are reminiscent of INCUBUS and Faith No Mores Mike Patton), and dead-on disco (Cartilage Holocaust), but a highlight is the double-time Django Rheinhardt-inspired guitar solo section on Satanic Disaster!
The clean vocals are very well sung and intelligently arranged (the vocal harmonies on Satanic reminded me of an obscure German prog-metal band from the early 90s called Annon Vin), and when CinC get down to business and play it straight, whether its the funk, soul or disco incarnation, the music grooves and swings hard.
Rating: 10+/10 (The plus is for the deftly acerbic lyrics)
Superb: unique concept married expertly with high level of musicianship and lyrical skill; encourages adherence to their viewpoint/philosophy; demands attention and or repeated listens to appreciate fully
Summary: Twisted, heavy, progressive, entertaining and most important when it comes to METAL, doesnt take itself (or anyone for that matter) seriously at all.
Standout tracks: Satanic Disaster, Ohlala, Delivery Day, Cartilage Holocaust.
