IMMOLATION - Unholy Cult
1. Of Martyrs And Men
2. Sinful Nature
3. Unholy Cult
4. Wolf Among The Flock
5. Reluctant Messiah
6. A Kingdom Divided
7. Rival The Eminent
8. Bring Them Down
Label: Olympic/Century Media Records
Release date: 2002
Artist site: http://www.everlastingfire.com/
GRADE:
9.5/10
IMMOLATIONs fifth full length release sees them refining the sound they have become known for; a maelstrom of chaos and discordant melodies forging brutality with a sometimes overwhelming sense of technicality. With each release, their songwriting craft improves, and Unholy Cult is no exception to the rule. Another consistently improving aspect of IMMOLATIONs sound is the production. Russ Dolans bass is more prominent in the mix this time around, adding a welcome heavier low end to the recipe. He and drummer Alex Hernandez have formed one hell of an unholy rhythm alliance over the course of the last three releases. This makes for challenging death metal, full of tempo changes yet full of emotion. And while longtime guitarist Thomas Wilkinson is missed, his replacement, Bill Taylor formerly of ANGEL CORPSE, helps remaining guitarist Robert Vigna maintain the high level of intricacy and brutality that the bands fans have come to love and expect.
Of Martyrs and Men kicks things off in high gear, twisting and churning riffs amidst the interesting drum patterns of Hernandez. I really wish I had received a lyric sheet with this one, so that I could break down whos doing what, in death metal thats pretty important. The woes of cardboard sleeved promos.. but thats a topic for the ROYAL CARNAGE forum!! Another definite highlight for me would have to be the seven minute title track. Very cool intro, which slides right into this sort of rolling drumbeat, hypnotic, yet brutal. There are some very nice ups and downs on this one, strong dynamics, something I like in my death metal. Check out the twisted riffs on A Kingdom Divided, probably my favorite. It seems like the record gets stronger towards the end, which to me is always a sign of a good release. On Rival the Eminent, the drums and guitar lock in together for a really, really tight GROOVE. And I dont mean a crappy SIX FEET UNDER type of groove; I mean one of the strongest grooves youve ever heard. Period. Bring Them Down blasts its way through until about the three minute mark, where one of their trademark discordant melodies starts and lulls you for the next three minutes until it fades out, ending the album.
I strongly urge those of you had passed on IMMOLATION like some sort of 2nd or 3rd tier death metal band to go back and take another look. They have been challenging the preconceived boundaries of death metal since 1999s Failures For Gods and 2000s Close To A World Below, two albums I, along with many others, hold with high regard. I often refer to them, along with the latest, as the unholy trinity. All silliness aside, IMMOLATION have upped the ante with Unholy Cult, something I had thought impossible with bands like NILE and whatnot out there. Rest assured these guys can hold their own.
PJ
1. Of Martyrs And Men
2. Sinful Nature
3. Unholy Cult
4. Wolf Among The Flock
5. Reluctant Messiah
6. A Kingdom Divided
7. Rival The Eminent
8. Bring Them Down
Label: Olympic/Century Media Records
Release date: 2002
Artist site: http://www.everlastingfire.com/
GRADE:
9.5/10
IMMOLATIONs fifth full length release sees them refining the sound they have become known for; a maelstrom of chaos and discordant melodies forging brutality with a sometimes overwhelming sense of technicality. With each release, their songwriting craft improves, and Unholy Cult is no exception to the rule. Another consistently improving aspect of IMMOLATIONs sound is the production. Russ Dolans bass is more prominent in the mix this time around, adding a welcome heavier low end to the recipe. He and drummer Alex Hernandez have formed one hell of an unholy rhythm alliance over the course of the last three releases. This makes for challenging death metal, full of tempo changes yet full of emotion. And while longtime guitarist Thomas Wilkinson is missed, his replacement, Bill Taylor formerly of ANGEL CORPSE, helps remaining guitarist Robert Vigna maintain the high level of intricacy and brutality that the bands fans have come to love and expect.
Of Martyrs and Men kicks things off in high gear, twisting and churning riffs amidst the interesting drum patterns of Hernandez. I really wish I had received a lyric sheet with this one, so that I could break down whos doing what, in death metal thats pretty important. The woes of cardboard sleeved promos.. but thats a topic for the ROYAL CARNAGE forum!! Another definite highlight for me would have to be the seven minute title track. Very cool intro, which slides right into this sort of rolling drumbeat, hypnotic, yet brutal. There are some very nice ups and downs on this one, strong dynamics, something I like in my death metal. Check out the twisted riffs on A Kingdom Divided, probably my favorite. It seems like the record gets stronger towards the end, which to me is always a sign of a good release. On Rival the Eminent, the drums and guitar lock in together for a really, really tight GROOVE. And I dont mean a crappy SIX FEET UNDER type of groove; I mean one of the strongest grooves youve ever heard. Period. Bring Them Down blasts its way through until about the three minute mark, where one of their trademark discordant melodies starts and lulls you for the next three minutes until it fades out, ending the album.
I strongly urge those of you had passed on IMMOLATION like some sort of 2nd or 3rd tier death metal band to go back and take another look. They have been challenging the preconceived boundaries of death metal since 1999s Failures For Gods and 2000s Close To A World Below, two albums I, along with many others, hold with high regard. I often refer to them, along with the latest, as the unholy trinity. All silliness aside, IMMOLATION have upped the ante with Unholy Cult, something I had thought impossible with bands like NILE and whatnot out there. Rest assured these guys can hold their own.
PJ
