Artist: Soul Reaper
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 3/7/00
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Title: Written in Blood Artist: Soul Reaper Label: Nuclear Blast Release Date: 3/7/00 |
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Abyss's Review:
Well it's been awhile since I've heard a Swedish band trying to sound like an American one (at least in metal), but here we have Soul Reaper, a Swedish death metal act that is probably best known for the presence of ex-Dissection drummer Tobias Kjellgren. And while the demise of that band still pulls strongly on my heartstrings, I definitely disagree with any comparison between them and this new entity. Soul Reaper is American style death profoundly influenced by latter-era Morbid Angel. I would almost call it ripping off rather than influenced by, but these guys are so damned good at what they're doing that it doesn't matter how similar the sounds are.
"so what if you can't tell if the dude on the cover is an alien, demon, or busboy (hell maybe he's a demonic busboy from the edge of the galaxy)? The music rules." This album has what we've grown to expect from Morbid Angel on their most recent releases, and these guys rival the masters with a completeness I've heard only in their mentors. Each song is a well crafted testament to their love of down tuned, mid-paced death, each containing a great number of individual riffs, time changes, and different effects to keep the listener interested from start to finish (of course that feat is made even easier by the fact that this disc is so short). My favorite track, "Subterreanean Night" is the best example on an album full of great material. The slow brooding riffs that are constantly highlighted with artificial harmonics seem well thought out and well utilized. And once you think the song is over, there is another pounding riff waiting behind a small pause, giving the song a completely different, yet equally heavy, feel.
The biggest disappointments are the sub par cover artwork, and the fact that this is so very derivative of another band. But as I said before, anything this good can't be a rip off, and so what if you can't tell if the dude on the cover is an alien, demon, or busboy (hell maybe he's a demonic busboy from the edge of the galaxy)? The music rules and I hope this band is given more attention over at Nuclear Blast, Lord knows they have to wrestle some money away from the plethora of power metal they're pushing on us.
Rating Revised for Metal Judgment Anniversary
Death's Review:
What's the audible difference between older death metal bands (Death, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse) and the death metal stylings of the newer breed? I'm not sure if Soul Reaper can tell you. I suppose, although European, Soul Reaper carry more of an American Florida death metal sound. But repeated listens reveal that their power is of a more profound nature than such a simplistic categorization would suggest.
Kicking off the record with a crazy, technical death metal solo over talented and emotively pounding four-limbed drumming (from former Dissection drummer Tobias Kjellgren), downtuned harmonized guitar trilling and Chuck Schuldiner vocal screaming ("Darken the Sign"), is a strong but incomplete indicator of the full palate of influences yet to be displayed. Hearing the progressive, late-Death/Athiest atmospheric noodling into Cannibal Corpse onslaught followed by unadulterated headbanging riffage of the title track, which follows, grants one with a deeper understanding. However, it's not until you've heard the album's third track, "Satanized," when the song's neo-black speed and Euro-death-meets-Death's-"Leprosy"-feel show the remaining cards in the Soul Reaper deck, or it's fourth, "Seal of Degredation," with its unique-sounding Morbid Angel-meets-Satyricon vibe and huge and interestingly mixed drum fills, that you'll be able to truly comprehend the scope of Soul Reaper's metallic diversity. These guys do justice to the memory of a time when death metal bands "rose above" by becoming incredible musicians rather than by getting lost in keyboard goo.
"These guys do justice to the memory of a time when death metal bands "rose above" by becoming incredible musicians rather than by getting lost in keyboard goo." The songwriting is also outstanding, even while remaining squarely within the strictest of genre-imposed arrangement limitations. The songs are actually catchy and carry a presence and deliver an impact so often missing from other metallic contemporaries of all subgenres. Excellent guitar leads and interesting instrumental and vocal experimentation (both are featured prominently on the ungodly cool ending minute to "Ungodly") are the rule. Soul Reaper can play their instruments, and they're evil! More importantly, they know at the end of the day, its all about making the heads bob. This is a very cool album.
Hel's Review:
Tell me this, how do you not like an album titled Written in Blood? If you’re a lover of all that is metal, you realize this is a rhetorical question. I do love all that is metal, and I’m a big fan of death metal in particular. Soul Reaper gives me nothing to make me rethink my stance. What they do provide, is an entertaining album chock-full of blasphemous heavy metal.
"Tell me this, how do you not like an album titled Written in Blood?" Throughout this record, you will find generally brilliant guitar work, viciously regurgitated vocals and strong, brutal drumming. The title track, "Written in Blood" is fully epic, being not only long, but containing a lovely, melodic, mellow section near the beginning of the song which contrasts nicely to the remainder of the seriously metal track.
After listening to this album a couple of times, I hold a pretty strong conviction that the aforementioned mellow passage is probably the only one on the entire album. The majority of songs on Written in Blood seem to feature Soul Reaper trying to break the sound barrier with their lightening fast riffing. As usual, this is a record that needs to be played LOUD to be fully appreciated. Otherwise, the production makes things sound muddled and it’s hard to decipher what’s going on.
If your criteria for heavy metal consists of the following: 1) the only words you want to be able to understand from the singer are the occasional "Satan", and 2) you like a wide variety of ultrafast riffs accompanied by frantic drumming - you’ll be wanting to get yourself a copy of Written in Blood right away.
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