Artist: Unholy Ghost
Label: Olympic Recordings
Release Date: 4/20/04
|
|
Title: Torrential Reign Artist: Unholy Ghost Label: Olympic Recordings Release Date: 4/20/04 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
|
2 | ||
|
4 | ||
|
4 | ||
|
| |||
Abyss's Review:
Since this is a band I had never heard of before, I perused the accompanying promo material in order to get a feel for what this they are all about. And am I glad I did! Not only did I find out that this band is made up of ex-members of Diabolic, I also was told that this was the most impressive metal album of the year, and that it is far better than all of my current favorites. It was almost to the point that I didn't feel I needed to even listen to the record because it would just be a waste of time. I mean, I've read some flattering promotional material before, but this bio sheet was sentence after sentence of apparent FACTS. It gave me the distinct impression that if I didn't think this record ruled, I must be an idiot. And this is where I come to my dilemma . . . I don't think it rules. I don't think it's very original (even though they explicitly told me that it WAS). I'm almost ashamed to admit it, because it will probably immediately destroy any semblance of credibility I might have. I just don't understand how it can supposedly destroy all of the other metal bands out there and not really move me at all. In fact, it's almost like the record company is trying to sway my opinion by berating me with how incredible this act is. Now, I'm no conspiracy theorist, so don't think I'm a nut . . . but it's almost like they're saying untruths in an attempt to sell more records . . .
"One word review: Generic." Anyway, Unholy Ghost hit me in almost the entirely opposite way most of my favorite albums do. Many of my favorites disappointed me upon first listen but got better and better the more I listened to them. I found Torrential Reign pretty cool when I first put it on, but by the second and third listens I was getting pretty bored. The band isn't bad, they play a vicious sort of Floridian death metal, but they are nothing new.
The riffs hit hard, but are nondescript and uninspired, and the soloing is just terrible. Soloing is a lost art, and this band is a prime example of that. Maybe nu metal has the right idea: if you're not good at soloing, just don't do it. It's not even that the soloing on this album is overlooking mood for technicality, instead it's just poorly executed and completely inappropriate. There is no flow or contrast, only a pointless break in the song.
The best aspect to this band is the energy that comes through on the performance. Despite being lackluster compositionally, there is a frantic aspect to the songs that inspire a sense of urgency. This is an admirable trait and could lead to good things in this band's future. One word review: Generic.
Death's Review:
Tampa-based quartet Unholy Ghost -- drummer Aantar Lee Coates, bassist/vocalist Paul Ouellette, guitarist Jerry Mortellaro (all founding members of Diabolic) and Kelly McLauchlin (guitarist of Pessimist) -- was formed in January 2003. This is their debut release for Olympic Recordings, part of the "Century Family" here in the U.S. Hot on the heels of appearances at last year's Las Vegas and Snakenet metalfests, the band deliver a recorded performance worthy of your attention. Unholy Ghost feature interesting and complex yet relatively standard-issue Florida-style death metal with modern production values and a distinct melodic overlay. The delicate balance between musical proficiency and metallic intensity of Diabolic is here and fans of interesting and developed modern brutal death metal such as Vital Remains' awesome Dechristianize effort and the bulk of the Morbid Angel catalogue should be pleased with Torrential Reign.
"There is some technicality, some groove and lots of brutality." There is blasting speed right out of the box from the beginning of track one and the album does not relent. There is some technicality, some groove and lots of brutality. I like the guitar work which shows skill yet is by no means masturbatory - think late-era Death or Morbid Angel in tone (effects-laden but biting and incisive, cutting through the mix and sounding altogether entirely "metal"), with a bit less flourish. The drumming is hyperkinetic and fun to behold, just following the kick drum alone sometimes is enough to illustrate the challenging nature of the performances. Sure, you've heard it all before, but these guys are professional and this is a polished and solid release. In the end, there is no reason why Unholy Ghost shouldn't be taking their place among the ranks of the modern North American death metal elite. If you like Nile, Suffocation, Diabolic, Death, Morbid Angel, Monstrosity, Hate Eternal, and Cannibal Corpse, you'll want to check out Unholy Ghost, and add this platter to your collection.
Hel's Review:
Here's the question you need to ask yourself: Do you want your death metal to be rapid-fire with blackened overtones? If so, then you should make of point of picking up Unholy Ghost's debut. Primarily driven by a twin guitar attack and blistering drumming, rounded out by fairly traditional death style vocals and offset by the occasional guitar solo, this first effort by former members of Diabolic and Pessimist is worthy of note.
"Quality blackened death from the good ole' U.S.A." Twelve short but blistering tracks of high quality musicianship are offered on Torrential Reign. There will undoubtedly be naysayers who will sniff and claim "been there, done that" but I believe this is worthy of a listen regardless. It has clearly been put together with a lot of passion and heart, and that, in combination with the skill of the performances, will be enough to turn some heads.
I look forward to hearing more from this band in the future and I hope to get the chance to see them live sometime soon. Quality blackened death from the good ole' U.S.A.
[- Metal Judgment Home -] [- Email Metal Judgment -]
©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.