LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR - Carnage (2004)
http://www.southernlord.com
http://www.southernlord.com/press/lotm
1. Carnage Fucking Carnage
2. The Wolf
3. Lion Killer
4. Caravan of Blood Soaked Kentauroi
5. Enemy of Gods
6. Warlord
7. Demon Serpent
8. Burning Temple
More retro death metal. Well okay, I'm getting a little sick of this trend now. I understand the desire to make tribute music to the forefathers of death metal, but at the same time the reason I love the extreme metal genre is because traditionally it is never afraid to push boundaries. That is what makes it so, you know, extreme. Making tributes to the old school is all well and good, but the focus of this musical genre should not be to circle back and start again. This is why BLOODBATH - Breeding Death succeeded in so many ways, it was a tribute, it was really good, but most importantly, it was short. A 3-song EP was the perfect medium for making a look back at traditional death metal album, and the band should've ended right then and there. This is why the full length followup Resurrection Through Carnage was such a failure.
As explained by the man behind the music, Rathbone: "I try not to expose myself to newer, unwanted influences. We wanted LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR to be everything we've ever liked about metal. Stories about monsters and death, and music filled with killer chug riffs that you can bang your head to." For what he wanted, it's a success. Unfortunately it's not terribly good. The riffs plod along, the vocals are a little irritating, and the whole thing drags along far too slow to be exciting. Eh, I'm being a little harsh. The album is fun for what it is, and is short enough to be enjoyable on an occasional basis.
5/10
NAD
http://www.southernlord.com
http://www.southernlord.com/press/lotm
1. Carnage Fucking Carnage
2. The Wolf
3. Lion Killer
4. Caravan of Blood Soaked Kentauroi
5. Enemy of Gods
6. Warlord
7. Demon Serpent
8. Burning Temple
More retro death metal. Well okay, I'm getting a little sick of this trend now. I understand the desire to make tribute music to the forefathers of death metal, but at the same time the reason I love the extreme metal genre is because traditionally it is never afraid to push boundaries. That is what makes it so, you know, extreme. Making tributes to the old school is all well and good, but the focus of this musical genre should not be to circle back and start again. This is why BLOODBATH - Breeding Death succeeded in so many ways, it was a tribute, it was really good, but most importantly, it was short. A 3-song EP was the perfect medium for making a look back at traditional death metal album, and the band should've ended right then and there. This is why the full length followup Resurrection Through Carnage was such a failure.
As explained by the man behind the music, Rathbone: "I try not to expose myself to newer, unwanted influences. We wanted LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR to be everything we've ever liked about metal. Stories about monsters and death, and music filled with killer chug riffs that you can bang your head to." For what he wanted, it's a success. Unfortunately it's not terribly good. The riffs plod along, the vocals are a little irritating, and the whole thing drags along far too slow to be exciting. Eh, I'm being a little harsh. The album is fun for what it is, and is short enough to be enjoyable on an occasional basis.
5/10
NAD
