Usurper – Visions From The Gods, Necronemesis and Twilight Dominion
Earache – MOSH 264/258/257CD – 24th March 2003
By Russell Garwood
True metallers Usurper are back with their new album "Twilight Dominion", which was released on 24th March 2003. To celebrate the fact, Earache have re-released their third effort "Necronemesis" and debut demo "Visions From The Gods" in conjunction with the new recording. The band comprises vocalist General Diabolical Slaughter, guitarists Rick Scythe and Carcass Chris, Jon Necromancer on bass, and the line up is completed by drummer Dave "Hellstorm" Chiarella. The group’s music is an amalgamation of all things metallic – black, death, classic and thrash rolled into one. Heavy, crunching guitar work holds some melody, juxtaposing guttural, shouted vox. The rhythm work and interplay between vox and guitars help create compelling, anthemic choruses while powerful drumming accentuates this well. The heavy bass is relatively prominent, helping create a fuller, more rounded sound.
"Visions From The Gods", from 1994, now features not only the five demo tracks, but 6 bonus songs including rare, alternative and live tracks, covers and unreleased material. The production is impressive considering the low budget this must have been recorded on, and Usurper were certainly proficient at their chosen instruments even at this stage in their career. Their lack of experience shows slightly, however, and "Visions From The Gods" is not the best release to purchase if you are new to the band. Undoubted standout has to be the interesting interpretation of King Diamond’s "Charon", which replaces the normal singing with guttural growls and the falsetto with witch screams. Ultimately it is still inferior to the original, but is still well worth listening to..
"Necronemesis", Usurper’s third album, is another solid effort; by this point the song-writing has advanced considerably and the music is increasingly varied, making for more interesting listening. Standout tracks on this release have to be "Slaughterstorm" for the impressive 33 second ending scream courtesy of the General, and "Necronemesis", which features guest vocals by King Diamond.
Usurper’s latest release "Twilight Dominion" continues in a similar vein to "Necronemesis". The production courtesy of Neil Kernon is the best of these Earache records, being clean and well-balanced. The album is split into two chapters, "Total Metal Lust" and "Tales From The Chronovisor", which don’t differ greatly, while standout tracks include an upbeat song "The Oath Of Silence" and the heavier "Lycanthropic".
Overall these are three successful releases, a must if you are a fan of the "true metal spirit" etc. If you are not, however, Usurper’s music is all very similar, and while at times catchy, it can also become monotonous. It is also rather unoriginal – but nevertheless is well written, competently performed and good fun.
Earache – MOSH 264/258/257CD – 24th March 2003
By Russell Garwood
True metallers Usurper are back with their new album "Twilight Dominion", which was released on 24th March 2003. To celebrate the fact, Earache have re-released their third effort "Necronemesis" and debut demo "Visions From The Gods" in conjunction with the new recording. The band comprises vocalist General Diabolical Slaughter, guitarists Rick Scythe and Carcass Chris, Jon Necromancer on bass, and the line up is completed by drummer Dave "Hellstorm" Chiarella. The group’s music is an amalgamation of all things metallic – black, death, classic and thrash rolled into one. Heavy, crunching guitar work holds some melody, juxtaposing guttural, shouted vox. The rhythm work and interplay between vox and guitars help create compelling, anthemic choruses while powerful drumming accentuates this well. The heavy bass is relatively prominent, helping create a fuller, more rounded sound.
"Visions From The Gods", from 1994, now features not only the five demo tracks, but 6 bonus songs including rare, alternative and live tracks, covers and unreleased material. The production is impressive considering the low budget this must have been recorded on, and Usurper were certainly proficient at their chosen instruments even at this stage in their career. Their lack of experience shows slightly, however, and "Visions From The Gods" is not the best release to purchase if you are new to the band. Undoubted standout has to be the interesting interpretation of King Diamond’s "Charon", which replaces the normal singing with guttural growls and the falsetto with witch screams. Ultimately it is still inferior to the original, but is still well worth listening to..
"Necronemesis", Usurper’s third album, is another solid effort; by this point the song-writing has advanced considerably and the music is increasingly varied, making for more interesting listening. Standout tracks on this release have to be "Slaughterstorm" for the impressive 33 second ending scream courtesy of the General, and "Necronemesis", which features guest vocals by King Diamond.
Usurper’s latest release "Twilight Dominion" continues in a similar vein to "Necronemesis". The production courtesy of Neil Kernon is the best of these Earache records, being clean and well-balanced. The album is split into two chapters, "Total Metal Lust" and "Tales From The Chronovisor", which don’t differ greatly, while standout tracks include an upbeat song "The Oath Of Silence" and the heavier "Lycanthropic".
Overall these are three successful releases, a must if you are a fan of the "true metal spirit" etc. If you are not, however, Usurper’s music is all very similar, and while at times catchy, it can also become monotonous. It is also rather unoriginal – but nevertheless is well written, competently performed and good fun.
