I just saw this at a different forum and thought I should post it here...basically what I was attempting to say in my previous post. I did not come up with any of this but I agree wholeheartedly with it.
-Hands down the greatest rhythms in metal music. Very complex time
signatures - stuff unheard of in every other band I've ever come
across. This includes so-called progressive groups. Perhaps you have
to be a musician to appreciate things like this.
-Very talented lead guitarist, who does things no other guitarist
does. For instance, he often uses a MIDI breath controller in tandem
with his guitar to create amazing sounds. A real virtuoso.
-Cool lyrics - and you have to remember that english is not their
native language. Yet their vocabulary on Chaosphere is better than 99%
of the english-speaking bands I've heard.
-Overall power/emotion/etc. I think the vocalist is great. I'm not
into death metal music at all, and I usually like singers who "sing,"
but this guy is awesome. Kind of like Phil Anselmo, but better.
-Great songwriting. Progressive metal. No 4/4 power chord-only
bullshit here. And the songs go places. Especially on Destroy, Erase,
Improve, which is less straightforward than Chaosphere.