Artist: Old Man's Child
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 3/21/00
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Title: Revelation 666: The Curse of Damnation Artist: Old Man's Child Label: Century Media Release Date: 3/21/00 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Go to Reader Reviews | ||
Abyss's Review:
When I heard that this would be my next assignment I was quite excited. I've liked this band since I heard the re-release of Born of the Flickering, but the band fell away from my consciousness through no fault of their own. I enjoyed their sound, but missed out on most of their subsequent albums, due to the volume of new metal going through my stereo (Too much metal, too little time). So I've missed some of the progression along the way.
"A high glossed, accessible black metal release that can compare with Dimmu Borgir's latest." But this new album has me very happy. A high glossed, accessible black metal release that can compare with Dimmu Borgir's latest is a good way to describe this platter, and to those of us that loved Spiritual Black Dimensions, this album is a great bonus. I realize that a lot of "true black" metalheads out there don't think that the words "accessible" and "black metal" can be used in conjunction, and I personally think they're just being short-sighted. In any case, if that happens to be your opinion, there is no use in picking this disc up.
This band, and bands like them, take the principles of black metal, and introduce something that I think is painted over in many of the "truer" black bands. The guitar riff. While the slash and burn guitar attack that is utilized in many of the more traditional black bands has done wonderful things for the genre of extreme music, I am glad to see some bands are adding a little groove and time changes to make the songs a little more individualistic, and easier to listen to for long periods of time.
"A quality metal release, even if it isn't the most aggressive thing out there." Adding to this asset is this band's effective use of technology. The production values are high (of course, this is a Century Media band, so what do you expect?), and although the vocals obviously have mechanical assistance, it is done very well, allowing the vocals to really add to the overall song. Add to this the attention to song writing and listenability, you have a quality metal release, even if it isn't the most aggressive thing out there.
Death's Review:
For those of you who don’t know Old Man’s Child, they are a seven-year-old Norwegian outfit whose mission to date (besides a seeming attempt at the "most lineup shifts in one band" crown) has been the integration of thrash, black and death metal stylings into one coherent beast. It would be easy enough to say that the quest for accomplishment of this noble task has essentially fallen to vocalist/guitarist/keyboard player and primary driving force Galder, and Galder alone. However, like so much else that is Old Man’s Child, with Revelation 666, original members Jardar and Tjodalv (4 songs) have returned to the fold, leaving categorizations and accusations of a Galder solo project in some serious doubt.
Unfortunately, the search for the primary auteurs of Revelation 666 ends up a search for upon whom to cast the blame. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good record overall. However, by downplaying the thrash element and focusing on the black, Old Man’s Child takes a dramatic step away from originality and instead dives head first toward the mediocrity of being just another Norwegian black metal band.
"Old Man's Child takes a dramatic step away from originality." Following up a record which featured drum god Gene Hoglan, with a new record which does not, unfortunately, feature drum god Gene Hoglan, is bound to be difficult. However, the drumming is generally solid, with mechanically precise beats and interestingly emotive cymbal work throughout (two drummers are featured on the record, but god help me in attempting to figure out who is who). Rather, it is the songwriting and overall approach which move decidedly in the wrong direction. Less thrashiness (although exceptions like the intro to "Obscure Divine Manifestation" certainly abound), more atmosphere and more generally "black" stylings (try the opening to the next track "World Expiration") are the order of the day. And I’m not really liking what I hear: to my tastes, the quest to be another Dimmu Borgir just isn’t really worthy of all that much of my attention.
I do have to respect the continued blend of stylings, emphasized dramatically in "Hominis Nocturna." Listen first to the tremolo picking sound at :30-1:10. Then compare that with the full-on thrash attack of the riffs that plays from roughly 1:10-1:45. Not since the best of King Diamond have I heard such technicality, thrashiness, Satanism and atmosphere all exhibited on the same track. Because of this, and the intensity of tracks like "Into Silence Embrace," as well as overall abundance of generally cool riffing, I recognize that Old Man’s Child remain an important and respectable act despite my displeasure with the evolution of their musical approach. Still, I can’t exactly applaud the move either, now can I? Which in the end makes this worthy of nothing better than an average score.
"The quest to be another Dimmu Borgir just isn't really worthy of all that much of my attention."
Hel's Review:
So I thought to myself when I turned to this record, "this is where the tide turns." For weeks now, I’ve been reviewing album after album and enjoying them all. So the other shoe has to drop eventually, right? When I received yet another new release from a band that’s been around a while that I’d never heard of, I figured the time was neigh.
I saw the press photo, and I beheld yet another corpse-painted band with an evil-countenanced frontman. Convinced that I would be able to toss this into the pile titled, "been there, done that way too many times" the moment I put it on, I popped the disk in and relegated the case to said pile. And promptly pulled it out again.
"Today is not the day for you to receive a negative review from Hel, Old Man's Child." Today is not the day for you to receive a negative review from Hel, Old Man’s Child. Comfort yourself with the knowledge that while you may not be breaking pristine, untouched metal ground, you have maintained a standard of black metal with courage and power.
They diverge from the norm to deliver skillful, epic keys. These mark the album, for they are less frequently of the funhouse variety than you may expect, and more often simply well played. Occasionally, I will begin to wonder if my stereo kicked over to the classical station, but this lasts only the briefest moment, and truly only illuminates the skill of the musicians in this band.
"Occasionally, I will begin to wonder if my stereo kicked over to the classical station, but this lasts only the briefest moment." Tracks like "Passage to Pandemonium" and "In Black Endless Void" showcase the versatility and ability of this band. I’m thrilled to be disappointed in this case. Old Man’s Child does not deserve the wrath of Hel simply because it is the latest in a long line of seemly endless, talented bands. Instead, they receive my accolades, and the blessing of damnation.
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