Metal Reviews

Disclaimer: "Rebel" does not indicate any resistance of any sort. It's a name. I wanted to review, got no where for the time being, but baby, I gotta write. So, here goes. Enjoy, forum reviews for the FORUMITES.

Crimson Massacre - The Luster of Pandemonium
Deathgasm 2005
9 Songs
52+ minutes

Precision. With air-tight precision, the most talented and technical musicians are capable of impressing even the most hardened, seen-it-all metal head at least once. Some works, fueled by such skilled masters of the metal artillery (Axe, Bass, Drums) have a lifespan that places them amongst legends. Other works, despite the uncanny abilities of their authors, FAIL. Whether it be songwriting, lack of emotion, or any other number of reasons, some of the greatest musicians are prone to writing albums destined to collect dust.

When it comes to the all out technicality part of the deal, Crimson Massacre deliver. Always. On this particular release, The Luster of Pandemonium, they also manage to deliver a gorgeously epic, brutal, and original effort that will not go stale any time in this decade. Hailing from Houston, Texas, Crimson Massacre play a brand of Death Metal (w/ slight Black influence) that rivals Cryptopsy's most obscure, while carrying the same straight forward brutality of their great state's finest (Viral Load, for example).

Every component of the band flows. James Jackson and Bill Ledgerwood's Guitar/Bass combo creates what essentially is noise, looped. They don't like to stand still for long. The jazz influence is decipherable, and the variance in their material makes the music appear to evolve. Slowed down, and amplified differently, this could sound similar to a decent Jazz fusion band. Played at their speed, it becomes noise felt, without melody. The drummer, Scott Horne, ain't no hammer god, but his (constant) blast beats are sufficient, and equal in the mix with the guitars. Together, their excellent talents are weaved to near perfection.

Crimson Massacre's voice, Peter Olen, is a lackluster Lord Wurm. Not nearly as chaotic. At first, he even comes off as a core vocalist, but he isn't so idiotically blunt. His hiss is thick, and slithers violently over multiple words in one harsh syllable. An unusual vocal approach, the rasp and gore-slithering, but it fits the album.

It's Precise, brutal, original... Crimson Massacre pulls it all out for you on this full length, and comprimises nothing along the way. Familiarizing yourself with it is harder, you will find, than even the most chaotic releases out there. However, don't let it scare you. Catchy melody (and wacky stop/go retardness) is absent, yes, but you will be hooked if you allow complex buzz to become recognizable.

89/100

Before I became a reviewer here, I suggested a fan reviews forum, you should read what the staff here had to say about it:

http://www.metalreviews.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3377

I'm going to start reviewing CDs that will likely never be reviewed here soon. Nothing long, just short, quick, to the point reviews. I'd suggest when reviewing metal CDs that could be reviewed here to keep them short.

...

WHAT?!

Ugh. I can't be a reviewer for real, and I can't post fan reviews in the forum where they've been posted time and time again. Fuck that. All my reviews will be Thrash, Black or Death, so can I post em here, or what?

You should re-read that thread.

Marty say's join the team. I tried. No go. Furthermore, I don't see how reviewing a band is declaring open season, and having a say in how MR is run. That's stupid. An unmention band, reviewed, in a forum thread, is just as good a discussion opener as anything. To say anything about bandwidth is retarded. Opening a discussion thread with a review of the band would give your stance on them, as well as introduce newbies who can't discuss otherwise. Veterans of the band could give their own opinion, like they always do in the reviews forum. All in all, it's be an AMAZINGLY productive way to start discussions. I'm not reading any further into that thread, because anyone saying anything otherwise would be absolute bullshit to read, and on top of that, confusing. So re-read my post, and answer my question. CAN I POST REVIEWS H-E-R-E?

Sorry, I exploded again. I refuse to read that novel of a thread, so anything I say will be moot. If anything, I don't wanna go in circles. You're a mod and a reviewer here, you have some say, I shouldn't go nuts. That's something you earned.

Sorry Eyesore.
Would you be mad if I PMed some constructive ideas to you?

So you didn't read everything then? If so, how can you demand I answer your question?

Let's put it in perspective, I asked the question and was shot down by Marty I believe, he misinterpreted my intention when I jokingly made a demand. The bandwidth issue is not an issue as long as you use small images hosted elsewhere, which is why I suggested allmusic.com.

The big issue to the long time reviewers here is that posting long reviews just like they do on the main site sort of undermines the intentions of the site. Can you not see that point? I can. I'm not saying that now because I'm a reviewer now, I said it then as well.

Here is my suggestion, post reviews like this:

TWILIGHT OPHERA - THE END OF THE HALYCON AGE


Nordic black metal from Finland, or something like that! The good thing about this CD is that the singer has more of a melodic death metal voice and not the higher register rasping of a lot of black metal bands, the music is also much more dynamic than your traditional black metal outfit utilizing a variety of musical styles, instrumentation and song structures to break up the monotony that plagues many bands in this genre. There is also clean male and female vocals interspersed throughout the CD, and with elements of power metal, traditional metal and gothic rock this CD comes highly recommended! And I'm usually no fan of black metal.

This is simple and to the point. Try not to review albums that other people may review here, as well. There is a core group of reviewers here that have been here for a long time, if they ask that forum members don't do full-blown reviews, then don't. Do short reviews like the one above, it will still generate discussion if that is what you're after.

Well, I was hoping that wasn't the point of all this... Anyway, scroll up, and answer my second question. Say yes, and I think I can make a few points of my own, in a civil manor, that would be presentable to the team.

Check your PM.