WEll, i juat bought the album, and goddamn, do i love it. I don't understand all the bitching about it being a slow record...the drums are still sufficiently fast (it's no grind album, but it isn't doom either) the riffs are fantastic, just fantastic, but i think its because they aren't as frenetic as they used to be that the sound is "slower" I like the over all gloom on the record too, and i think the album is written very well. The running theme of the album seems to be coming to terms with death in various forms, so the music definitely suits the mood. Its a natural progression from not fearing death. or maybe i'm reading into it too much, i dunno...either way, great cd!