Vital Remains - A discussion of sorts...

[JayKeeley]

If there was one minor complaint I had about Dechristianize was that Benton should have taken a breath once in a while. I learned how to tune him out just because the riffs were too good to ignore.

Anyway, I was listening to Dawn of the Apocalypse today, and I noticed the same thing - the lead vocalist Thorn (albeit EXCELLENT) sometimes drowns the music out. And boy, some of the music on DotA is great, great DM. For example, the title track itself has this hammer-pounding riff that supports Suzuki playing acoustic flamenco guitar runs.

So anyway, is this a coincidence or is it Lazaro deciding on how many vocal lines to use? VR need to learn that less is more in the vox dept.

Also, I think I prefer the production on DotA. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up liking this more than Dechristianize after a few more listens. Whatever happened to that bald git anyway, Thorn?

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

Dechristianize is probably the best death metal album ive heard in a few years, but yes, i did notice sometimes that benton seemed to have an excessive amount of vocal parts. I never found it to much of a drawback i would say. BTW does anyone know how VR operates live? Seeing as theres only 2 members and Benton, i assume they have session players but i dont know who.

 

[NAD]

Benton's abundance of lines stopped bothering me on Dechristianize, but I do think they are a bit too high in the mix. I still don't have any other Vital Remains, but know I should.

Funny though that even while I have gripes about the production (rhythm guitar too quiet, drums too thin, vocals too loud), I think the overall tone they achieved is some of the best death metal has ever done. It sounds just so bloody and evil. :Smokedev:

 

[bloodfiredeath]

I've heard the same complaint about Decapitated. Personally, I like the abundance of vocals. In fact, I would say that I prefer it that way. I like vocals loud in the mix and out front too, so I guess I'm just disagreeing with everyone so far.

Oh... Dawn of the Apocalypse is awesome.

 

[JayKeeley]

Personally, I like the abundance of vocals. In fact, I would say that I prefer it that way. I like vocals loud in the mix and out front too, so I guess I'm just disagreeing with everyone so far.

I don't think the vocals are too loud in the mix either, although the drums could be stronger. It's just the abundance of vocal lines that I could do without. The 2:20-4:20 mark (I think) of the title track, "Dechristianize" is just so glorious in the riffing and slowed down tempo, I wish Benton would have just stopped for those 120 seconds.

 

[Caelum Adustum]

It's not so much the abundance of vocal lines that bothers me, but the immaturity of the lyrics themselves.

Other than that, it really is a brilliant album. The flamenco guitar on "Entwined by Vengeance" slays \m/

 

[bloodfiredeath]

It's not so much the abundance of vocal lines that bothers me, but the immaturity of the lyrics themselves.

Nah...

All metal lyrics should be like those of Vital Remains. It just feels right.

 

[neal]

the snare on dechristianize is fucking atrocious. it soulds like it belongs in blink 182 or something. its just so happy sounding.
-neal

 

[lurch70]

Dechristianize has definetelly grown on me ... but the first thing that struck me about that record was also Bentons mouthful of blasphemy.

Not sure it will have a long term replay value though and has not really made me interested in the previous releases.

It is a hell of a lot better than anything Deicide has ever released ... that is for sure.

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

BTW does anyone know how VR operates live? Seeing as theres only 2 members and Benton, i assume they have session players but i dont know who.

 

[JayKeeley]

It's a good question. They're lined up for some festivals over here in the US with Benton on vocals. Does he pick up the bass duties as he does for Deicide? Does Tony Suzuki give up his lead guitar work for a position on the drum stool? My *guess* is that they hire a session drummer, have Suzuki and Lazaro on guitars, and Benton on vocals + bass.

I just can't imagine Benton on a mic without a bass around his neck.

 

[commandante]

I am looking forward to see them in May, this album seriously kicks ass... Oh talking about Benton, who's gonna see The Passion of the Christ...

 

[JayKeeley]

[threadjack]
I tell you something really weird about the actor playing Jesus Christ in The Passion. His name is Jim Cavieziel (sp?) and I first saw him in The Thin Red Line. There's this scene where he's about to die at the hands of Japanese foot soldiers, and he acts out the stillness of that moment just perfectly. Fucking brilliant film. Anyway, in that instant, I leaned over to my wife and I said, "look at his eyes glazed over like that, like an angel, he could play Jesus".

So what happens? His next film is with J Lo called "Angel Eyes", and now here he is playing Jesus in "The Passion of Christ".

EEEIIIWWWRRRDDDSS!!!1
[/threadjack]

 

[bloodfiredeath]

It is a hell of a lot better than anything Deicide has ever released ... that is for sure.

Ha ha! Somebody, and it's often me, has to stand up for one of UM's most maligned bands.

Vital Remains are great, but Deicide's Legion is easily a top ten death metal album of all time. Hell, I'll even take the first Deicide over any VR.

And now Scars Of The Crucifix... hot damn!

 

[Papa Josh]

Ha ha! Somebody, and it's often me, has to stand up for one of UM's most maligned bands.

Vital Remains are great, but Deicide's Legion is easily a top ten death metal album of all time. Hell, I'll even take the first Deicide over any VR.

And now Scars Of The Crucifix... hot damn!

Legion is great, but the band are a shadow of what they were.

Too many damn steroids.

Vital Remains last two releases pretty much annihilate anything Deicide has even committed to thought.

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

BTW does anyone know how VR operates live? Seeing as theres only 2 members and Benton, i assume they have session players but i dont know who.

There were definitely 4 people on stage, including Benton who only sang, so I have no idea who played what. How's that for helpful?

 

[General Zod]

"Dechristianize" is the most brutal thing I own. At first listen, I thought its speed was laughable. But then that chorus, "I deny, God and all the angels" (at least that's what I think he's bellowing), just stuck in my head. I have no complaints with the mix on the disc.

Zod

 

[lurch70]

Go to: http://www.vitalremains.com/ > GALLERY ... there you will see the touring line-up !!!

 

[commandante]

I am going to the NYC date on May 7!

 

[lurch70]

a few of us from this board are .. we need to meet up!