Artist: Lost Soul
Label: Earache Records
Release Date: 2/22/05
|
|
Title: Chaostream Artist: Lost Soul Label: Earache Records Release Date: 2/22/05 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
|
3 | ||
|
3 | ||
|
4 | ||
|
| |||
Abyss's Review:
I must admit my feelings are a little mixed when it comes to this album. Lost Soul play a solid form of technical death metal that I enjoy on many levels, but at the same time I find myself forcing myself to listen to it. It may not be entirely this album's fault because the beginning of this year has brought me numerous awesome albums that I can't stop listening to (e.g. Dark Tranquillity, Behemoth, High On Fire to name a few). So while I like Lost Soul and respect what they're doing, they're kinda paling in comparison.
"One word review: Good." Lost Soul have found a nice territory between brutal death metal and technical proficiency that fans of classic Morbid Angel and Dying Fetus can definitely relate to. The band is from Poland, which is no longer an eccentricity, since their scene is now well established in the metal listening community, but like many European death metal acts recently, they're courting a relatively American sound. The brutal death sound has done an impressive job of surviving the trends of melodic death and metalcore, and is re-asserting itself on both sides of the pond. Bands like Lost Soul are making that happen.
This band's greatest asset is their unique approach to songwriting, which utilizes many more angles than one might believe upon the first few listens. The guitar work can be straightforward and brutal or angular and slightly abstract, sometimes within the confines of a few bars, all the while maintaining a flow that keeps the listener interested. The musicians are all quite capable, but never show off, and they seem to have a certain vision that they aspire to. One never gets the feeling that the band is throwing together some filler in an attempt to get an album completed.
Fans of the genre should definitely give this one a listen. If only I weren't so distracted by so much else out there. One word review: Good.
Death's Review:
Lost Soul deliver some fairly straightforward brutal death metal. The hook, if you will, is the quality production values and the incredible tightness of the performances. Poland appears to be rife with the stench of killer death metal (see Decapitated, Behemoth, etc.), right now, and Lost Soul is no exception. However, unlike those other two Polish death metal acts (particularly Decapitated), the musicianship just isn't as far along to be considered jaw dropping. Instead, Lost Soul kill with the bluntest of objects: tight, thick, precision death. Of course, the "twist" is the label-described "mystic and esoteric theme" (song titles include "Angel's Cry" and "Christian Meat") that envelops the record. Does this come across for the casual listener who doesn't really dig in? Not really. But surely it is there for those who spend the time. I think this is some good stuff, but there is so much metal music out there right now and so little time, I think that my ears are going to take me in anther direction.
"Lost Soul kill with the bluntest of objects: tight, thick, precision death."
Hel's Review:
Poor Lost Soul, I don’t know what it is about them, but I invariably forget everything about them the moment I stop listening to them. Not only do I forget what the songs sound like, but I have serious difficulty remembering the band’s name, and even more difficulty remember the album title. And you’d think a goofy title like Chaostream would stick in your head. The one thing I do recall about the last time I reviewed this band is that I had encountered a similar problem. Sad.
"Lost Soul is a death metal band worthy of taking the time to listen to." Lost Soul is truly undeserving of this affliction. In reality, they perform technically impressive, albeit rather standard death metal. The songs are less striking than the musicianship, which I believe is the band’s fatal flaw. I cannot put my finger on exactly what makes these songs more “ho-hum” than “wow” but the fact remains that this is the fundamental trouble I have faced with both of their albums.
Regardless, Lost Soul is a death metal band worthy of taking the time to listen to, for despite the lack of standout songs, the musicianship is interesting enough to provide a suitable payoff. They may be the kind of band that is mind-blowing live, and I certainly hope they are able to make it to the U.S. one of these days so I can test out my theory. Until then, I expect to dust this one off occasionally, but I do not foresee it taking up residence in my player for long.
[- Metal Judgment Home -] [- Email Metal Judgment -]
©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.