Extol

[edgeofthorns]

Are there any fans of this band here? If so, have any of you seen them live?

Normally, I don't dig this type of music, but their release Undecieved caught my ears! The cello usage and that sort of thing really fits well with the whole atmosphere of what they're doing in my opinion.

What your thoughts?

 

[MetalNations]

Their first album is their only good album. They went to be more radio friendly. So after their first disc... it stunk.

 

[TychoCelchu]

Their first album is their only good album. They went to be more radio friendly. So after their first disc... it stunk.

Are you crazy?! Yeah I like the first disc a lot, but the 2nd AND 3rd discs were improvements! None of the first 3 will be seeing the light of radio anytime soon. If the 2nd album saw a rise in appeal, it's more because of a general increase in popularity of that style of music that was happening at the time.

They released 3 solid albums of killer heavy metal and managed to make them all sound different, with the third (a tribute album to Believer) probably being my personal favorite.

Unfortunately they DID take a turn for the worse with the newest one. MisterMayhem just had the turning point off by 2 albums. The newest album is just a head-scratching test of patience and has me wondering how a band could prove themselves so adept at black/death metal and then technical thrash metal, only to take such a severe misstep.

They had a US tour booked in support of Synergy in 2003, but their van broke down and they had to skip their Michigan date. Their fall tour with Demon Hunter & Living Sacrifice did not even have a Michigan stop. Since then they've only been to the States for Cornerstone. I'm hoping for a tour soon, but hopefully a new GOOD album before that. Their current, revamped lineup is only playing songs from the newest album and 1 song from Burial, not a set I'd like to see much...

Still it's not enough to make me stop liking them. Yet.

 

[booB]

Undeceived was their first disc that hooked me as well.

 

[edgeofthorns]

Are you all referring to the band's first disc as the ep or Burial? So far, from what I can tell, the band didn't change their sound up until the Synergy disc. Am I wrong?

 

[TX Metal Cowboy]

I've been a fan of Extol from Burial! Before they signed with anybody. I saw them way back on their first US appearance at the Christian Texas Metal Festival in Marble Falls. They played two sets that weekend and were incredible, despite playing on a flatbed trailer! I have to agree with the consensus though, The Blueprint Dives is a terrible dissappointment.

 

[TX Metal Cowboy]

Are you all referring to the band's first disc as the ep or Burial? So far, from what I can tell, the band didn't change their sound up until the Synergy disc. Am I wrong?

Burial is the first disc from Extol. There are two versions, one the self released and the other through Solid State. The Mesmerized EP came out just prior to the release of Undecieved. Synergy did indeed mark the beginning of their change in sound. Hope this clears things up.

 

[edgeofthorns]

Burial is the first disc from Extol. There are two versions, one the self released and the other through Solid State. The Mesmerized EP came out just prior to the release of Undecieved. Synergy did indeed mark the beginning of their change in sound. Hope this clears things up.

Got it, thanks.

 

[noren]

I have only heard the latest disc, but I love it. So I will probably hate the earlier ones
Saw them live half a year ago and it was great even if I didn't know them at all at that time.

 

[edgeofthorns]

Extol seems to be well respected in the metal community.

 

[Jasonic]

Extol seems to be well respected in the metal community.

We must not post on the same message boards then...

 

[edgeofthorns]

We must not post on the same message boards then...

Would you like to elaborate?

 

[TychoCelchu]

The Carpathian Forest guys once said in an interview that if they could erase one band from existence, it would be Extol.

 

[edgeofthorns]

The Carpathian Forest guys once said in an interview that if they could erase one band from existence, it would be Extol.

Who in the hell is The Carpathian Forest?

 

[TychoCelchu]

You can look them up at www.bnrmetal.com; the short story is they're a Norwegian black metal band who from time to time display hints of a sense of humor amid all the grimness.

 

[MetalNations]

Are you crazy?!

Yes. Next question. lol.

Well. their 2nd is not that bad. 3rd not good. after that. stop listening to them.

 

[ratanda]

I like Undeceived. I didn't like The Blueprint Dives very much.

They came through here in 2000 and 2003, and both times they played in churches in the middle of nowhere so hardly anyone knew about the shows.

 

[AngraRULES]

We must not post on the same message boards then...

I think they are respected, but in forums that are dedicated to their style of music. I honestly didn't expect to see any respect given to the band (which is pretty decent) in a forum comprised of Power and Prog metal fans such as this one. Exceptions exist and I'm aware of that. But it's like posting about Pagan's Mind in the official forum of a band such as... Hypocrisy.

You guys clearly must not post in all the same boards... lol

 

[edgeofthorns]

I think they are respected, but in forums that are dedicated to their style of music. I honestly didn't expect to see any respect given to the band (which is pretty decent) in a forum comprised of Power and Prog metal fans such as this one. Exceptions exist and I'm aware of that. But it's like posting about Pagan's Mind in the official forum of a band such as... Hypocrisy.

You guys clearly must not post in all the same boards... lol

I don't know if I quite agree with that statement or not. There's a very broad range of musical taste on this forum. I mean we've discussed Bon Jovi and Jimmy Buffet for cryin' out loud and every band in between!

 

[sh0kr0k]

The Carpathian Forest guys once said in an interview that if they could erase one band from existence, it would be Extol.

They must be jealous There's absolutely no reason to say that Extol lack talent, creativity, or ambition.

I've been a fan of Extol for well over a decade since I first heard the Northern Lights compilation. I've seen them perform live twice and every year I hope and pray for their return to Cornerstone Festival in Illinois.

Extol tend to combine their brand of death metal with other genres for each album. Burial could be considered a mix of death and black metal. Mesmerised, death and industrial. Undeceived, death and progressive. Etc.. of course, there are always people who will disagree. For me, Burial is where it's at. Their newest release, The Blueprint Dives, is a quality disc but just doesn't capture me the way their other releases do.

Extol's live show is definately intense and a great display of their talent! You can tell they love playing live and put their hearts into! Oh, and they embody the defination of Sweet Mills!

Cool guys, too. David, the drummer, is quite possibly the world's biggest Stryper fan and even offered me any amount of money for my vintage To Hell With The Devil shirt! haha!



*Edit: This inspired me to dig up some old pics! I'll leave out the live ones, since they weren't too great afterall. All I had was a disposable camera and an angle from the moshpit!