Artist: Thy Primordial
Label: Candlelight Records
Release Date: 2/19/02 US, 3/11 Europe
|
|
Title: The Crowning Carnage Artist: Thy Primordial Label: Candlelight Records Release Date: 2/19/02 US, 3/11 Europe |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
|
3 | ||
|
2 | ||
|
3 | ||
|
|
Go to Reader Reviews | ||
Abyss's Review:
With the way so many black metal bands are branching out and expanding their sound, it's nice to know that there are still bands out there that like their black metal heavy and fast. These guys have a good grasp on songwriting and production, and have come out with a pretty thorough album. And though I would be lying if I said that it's the most amazing thing I'd ever heard, it's a respectable listen that hits the spot.
"I understand the 'leave 'em wanting more' concept, but it proves to be a little frustrating here."
The band hints toward melody at times, but doesn't let it take over the song, and keeps enough of a bottom end to make it sound somewhat like a death band at times. The songs are distinct enough, but the album is over too quickly for me to be blown away because it seems that every time I really start submerging myself in the music, it stops. I understand the "leave 'em wanting more" concept, but it proves to be a little frustrating here. Especially since the atmosphere of black metal is so essential to the genre. It makes it much harder to enshroud oneself in the sinewy layers of the music if it stops when you're only 75% enshrouded. And trust me, there's nothing more embarrassing than finding out your slip is showing through your death shroud! Bottom line: a grindcore band can have a half hour long album, but a Black metal band can't. At least they didn't make up the time by putting some pointless five minute intro on track one.
"I doubt that it will find its way into my CD player a few months from now, but right now it's a good way to spend my time." Anyway, this album isn't good enough to cause me to break down crying (you know, like at the end of the movie 'Babe?' I lose it every time. "That'll do pig, that'll do." He was so proud of him! Sniff.), but it is well worth your time. I doubt that it will find its way into my CD player a few months from now, but right now it's a good way to spend my time. One word review: Cool.
Death's Review:
Aside from the stellar cover art and the decent production, I must admit that Thy Primordial pretty much isn't my bag. Not as technical or as catchy as Emperor, Dimmu Borgir or Cradle of Filth, yet definitely not as ferocious as something so fast and so unrelentingly uncommercial really should be. The "blackened" as opposed to "classic heavy metal" or "Flordia death" or "SF thrash" style which gives birth to Thy Primordial's riffiness and melody simply detracts, to this metalhead, from the impact of the music. Instead of thick, bludgeoning riffs, we have thin, repetitively-picked, shrill, single notes forming the basis of the guitar work, without the artistic bombast or mildly progressive elements displayed by other and better progenitors of this sound. Slowly and hyponotically (some would say melodically), the songs edge along, notes continue to play at the similar droning speed while the pitch changes along a simple line and Vocalist Isidor elicits extended screams and drummer Morth pounds away on the double bass and toms in a lumbering sort of way. The occasional series of sustained power chords does work for me, at times, but it is not enough. Thus is Thy Primordial. Not really my bag, you know what I mean?
"Not really my bag, you know what I mean?"
Still, there is nothing wrong with the record, and at times Thy Primordial come close to engaging me. There are plenty of similar-sounding acts that I can really get into, and many elements of this record appear in bands that I really like. This is decent stuff, but certainly not groundbreaking or of any particular interest to me. Some will undoubtedly enjoy, as Thy Primordial have been around, they are competent musicians and The Crowning Carnage comes complete with production from Tommy Tagtgren and Abyss Studios. That will undoubtedly be enough for some. For me, this is very average material and not particularly to my taste.
"At times Thy Primordial come close to engaging me."
Hel's Review:
Well, you've got me. I'd never heard of Thy Primordial before this. I like the name though. And The Crowning Carnage is a damn fine album title, you gotta admit that. The cover art is pretty snazzy too. Things are starting off well for Thy Primordial. I really like typing that - Thy Primordial. Anyway. I was expecting some good old, straight forward black metal. You know what? It's pretty much, good old, straight-forward black metal.
I can't help but think of the music coming from my speakers as anything but "Black - n- Roll." Hey, I just made up a new sub-sub-genre! Thy Primordial is primo black-n-roll. Tracks one through nine are song after song of well executed mid tempo black metal. Every musician fills their place just right. There is a sort of slow hypnotic groove that recurs frequently, and in various ways, throughout the record, including the sole exception to the rest of the rules, the final track.
"I can't help but think of the music coming from my speakers as anything but "Black - n- Roll.""
This final track, titled, "Destroying the Idea of a God," is unlike any of the other songs on the album, except for that recurrence of that slow hypnotic groove, just discussed. This song is the place that fits in most naturally, as the entire song is sort of trippy, doomy and industrial. Quite Quirky. Love those Q's.
"To be brutally honest, and you know I love to be, The Crowning Carnage is dull in places and darnright rockin' in others." If you love all things black metal, I have no doubt that you will absorb and enjoy every note of this album. If you are a jaded black metaller, you may find your head nodding to your chest from time to time, and not in the really-into-it-nodding kind of way. To be brutally honest, and you know I love to be, The Crowning Carnage is dull in places and darnright rockin' in others.
[- Metal Judgment Home -] [- Email Metal Judgment -]
©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.