Artist: Malevolent Creation
Label: Pavement Music
Release Date: 10/17/00
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Title: Envenomed Artist: Malevolent Creation Label: Pavement Music Release Date: 10/17/00 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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4 | ||
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Go to Reader Reviews | ||
Abyss's Review:
I’ve got to admit it’s hard for me to be completely unbiased with regard to this band. Shortly after I obtained their last effort, Fine Art of Murder, I saw a picture of one of the members sporting a tee shirt endorsing the Ku Klux Klan. And while I realize, in a perfect world, this shouldn’t really have any bearing on how their music is interpreted, I can’t help but feel a little deflated whenever I think of it (Come to think of it, in a perfect world the KKK wouldn’t even exist, so I guess it’s not all my fault.). Having said all of this, I am trying to be as fair as possible, and while I don’t condone, in any way, this seemingly moronic choice of apparel, this review will be based on the music alone.
"Like going down on a hot girl with questionable hygiene… it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth." For those of you who enjoyed Fine Art of Murder, you will be most pleased to know that this album keeps to the same formula, but improves on it without compromising it. The albums are very similar, but the songwriting on this one is just one notch higher. The rhythm section seems to command a good amount of attention in the mix, and the drumming comes across as quite interesting despite what seems to be a constant barrage of double bass. While Gordon Simms may not be the world’s most amazing drummer, he’s definitely competent, and on this disc, seemingly ever-present.
The guitars offer much of the same, playing relatively simple, but effective riffs, that spend precious few moments carving out a head-banging riff before returning to tremolo picking to keep up with the bass drum. The vocals are your standard Death fare, but add to the song by allowing the listener to growl along.
In all honesty, there are a few bands out there that do the same thing even better, but there are a lot more that do it a lot worse. Still, just like going down on a hot girl with questionable hygiene… it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Death's Review:
When discussing the bands that contributed to the birth of the death metal nation in the early 1990's, few remember the influence of Florida (like Cannibal Corpse, by way of Buffalo) veterans Malevolent Creation. And while the days of the band's involvement with Roadrunner Records are long since behind them, 2000's Envenomed (no, that does not mean that they've become a three-piece, adopted one-word stage names and are wearing bullet belts and 70's-style sunglasses) kicks major ass. Yes folks, the band has a fire in the belly which is in no way tempered by their veteran status.
In fact, "veteran" is probably one of the most useful terms available to describe Malevolent Creation, for a number of reasons. Everything from the packaging (I'm convinced that by the end of 2001 Travis Smith will simply do the cover for every metal record) to the production screams experience and professionalism. But more than that, Malevolent Creation circa 2000 deliver what has to be a considered a veteran sound. The band delivers killer thrash/death riffing, subtlely different than that of the newer European and Scandinavian bands which have been called death-thrash of late (see The Crown, The Haunted, and Carnal Forge), instead fitting better with the late eighties / early nineties output from bands like Slayer, Kreator, and Death. Fairly technical (although technical like Pleasures-era Exodus and not like Watchtower or Control Denied), killer bludgeoning riffing and superb drumming is the order of the day here. Tracks like my personal favorite "Kill Zone" (I can't get enough of the slower, steady riff which starts somewhere around/just after the 2:30 mark) and "Bloodline Severed" are exactly the type of adrenaline-charged, American-sounding technical thrash bordering on death that I still crave to this day.
"Fairly technical, killer bludgeoning riffing and superb drumming is the order of the day here." Envenomed is a great record. I'd almost give it five skulls, but for the fact that there is nothing all that original or groundbreaking going on here, and the fact that while it stands tall next to Slayer, Kreator and Death, I still like those other bands' peak-ear albums better.
Hel's Review:
I can think of few better ways to kick off the New Year than listening to death metal, and I was glad to have such an interesting subject to listen to. The production is truly horrible, let's just get that over with and out there. Pure sludgy, muddy muck. If you have a fetish for clean perfect engineering, this isn't the record for you, and you probably should just run the other way. In cases where it is this bad, I always have to wonder if it is somehow intentional - perhaps the terrible production is a nod to the black metal influence they so obviously have.
" Did you resolve to listen to more metal this year? Don't you think you should? " Sure, there is a clear black metal bent to these Envenomed songs. But wonder not, Malevolent Creation is predominantly death metal. The drumming is ferociously, set-shatteringly, rapid; the crushing guitars riff relentlessly and the vocal line is regurgitated from the bowels, occasionally accented by a long impassioned scream. And then there's the tempo - right around the speed of a runaway freight train.
Do you have a yen for fast, straightforward, yet interesting, death metal to start your year out with? Did you resolve to listen to more metal this year? Don't you think you should? Listen to Malevolent Creation, fulfill your bestial cravings, and at long last turn your thoughts away from the irritating holidays now past.
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