Artist: Vital Remains
Label: Olympic Recordings
Release Date: 4/22/03
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Title: Dechristianize Artist: Vital Remains Label: Olympic Recordings Release Date: 4/22/03 |
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Abyss's Review:
It seemed like this one was never going to be released. Finally, Vital Remains have put out their new record, which features a blistering death metal attack as well as the vocal stylings of Deicide's Glen Benton. I'm happy to report that it was worth the wait, as Dechristianize, while not a perfect album, kicks a large quantity of ass.
"Dechristianize, while not a perfect album, kicks a large quantity of ass." The songwriting is just tremendous. I found myself mouth agape as the intro ended and the meat of the music kicked in. The new album is brutal, fast and blasphemous, but it injects moments of, dare I say it, melody, in bits and pieces. These moments are often hidden amongst the rest of the musical carnage, but they're there, and they add a great amount of depth to the record. From a songwriting standpoint, this is simply one of the best death metal records I've ever heard. It's basically exactly what I was looking for, and yet it surprised me at the same time.
While many might find this album noteworthy due to the fact that the lead throat is performed by Deicide's frontman, his performance is by far the least remarkable aspect to this record. That's not to say that he comes up short or anything. His performance gets the job done, but his voice is so overshadowed by everything going on around it that you will easily forget it's him barking at you through your speakers. Basically it becomes easy to get confused as to who is doing who the favor here because, let's face it, Deicide isn't putting out anything even remotely as interesting as this (and I like Deicide).
"One word review: Sick." The only weak part of this album is the drums. Not the drums themselves, but their sound. In my opinion they come through far too high in the mix. They also strike me as a little thin sounding, the blastbeats tend to distract me rather than give me a beat for my headbanging. I was initially going to take a skull off for this slight annoyance, but I decided not to. Let's face it, this album is most likely going to end up on my year-end list, so a perfect score it gets. One word review: Sick.
Death's Review:
It's Glen Benton week here at Metal Judgment.com. You can read about Glen's new studio album right here - on this page - as Glen Benton is now singing for seminal U.S. death metal warriors Vital Remains. You can also read about Glen and his "other" band, Deicide, in concert in our Summary Judgment section. It seems strange to think that, these days, the real action in the Benton camp is going on with Vital Remains. Right now, Deicide, who some have referred to as the AC/DC of death metal, feels like a classic rock act. Perhaps their new deal with Earache with revive the band for their next studio effort, but, for now, Vital Remains is the Benton project most likely to end up on many people's top ten list at the end of 2003.
"Satan is pleased. You probably will be too."
Dechristianize retains both the powerful roar of traditional U.S. death metal and the satanic themes of Vital Remains efforts past, while adding a high level of melodic sophistication. Dual, harmonized guitar lines dole out subtly classically-influenced, interwoven lines amidst the chaos. Intricate drumming adds a frenzied flourish to the brutalized riffs. Benton sounds as you'd expect he might, lending an impassioned yet still relatively routine performance - his strong, guttural death vocal and the occasional background (almost) blackened scream thrown in for good measure. Core Vital Remains members Tony Lazaro (guitar) and all-around death metal master musician Dave Suzuki (bass, drums, and lead guitar) have crafted a masterful album that falls squarely within the inherent acceptable boundaries of the genre, while at the same time ending up with something truly (though not dramatically) unique. Satan is pleased. You probably will be too.
"My only complaint is with some of the production choices." My only complaint is with some of the production choices. Not the overall sound quality of the album, mind you, that is actually quite well done and very professional-sounding, befitting of the Morrisound Studios name. I'm mostly talking about the mix. The rhythm guitars are too thin. The snare drum is too "pop"-sounding. I think it detracts from the power of the riffs. Perhaps it's just me. Perhaps I'm right, and I'm noting an objective, rather than a subjective flaw. Still, the album gets five skulls, for two reasons: first, the way they've managed to still deliver a brutal, American death metal album and still display so much melody and classic musicianship; and second, for the fact that Benton chose to step up to the plate and dramatically increase the Vital Remains profile. It's almost like the death metal equivalence of Jason Newsted joining Voivod. Only more satanic. And much brutaller. I don't see Chris Barnes joining Skinless, or David Vincent doing vocals for Dying Fetus. You gotta give it up for Benton. Still, once you listen to this record a few times, you'll realize that the musical dynamics and texture are the real attraction here.
Hel's Review:
Despite ongoing personnel issues, Vital Remains returns at last with the long-awaited follow-up to 1999's Dawn of the Apocalypse. Dechristianize finds guitarist/founder Tony Lazaro and long-time all-purpose bandmate Dave Suzuki (he handled bass, drums, and lead guitar duties on the record, and will reportedly be playing lead guitar on the upcoming tour) teaming up with new vocalist Glen Benton. That's right boys and girls, the front man of Deicide himself. Together this unholy trinity unleashes a devastating, blasphemous metal assault.
"Together this unholy trinity unleashes a devastating, blasphemous metal assault." The only real flaw in my enjoyment of this record came from its sometimes-iffy production. Some tracks are better than others, with the worst containing little to no mid range or bottom end. The result is thin, tinny songs that clearly should have a serious kick instead. Otherwise, I only have one other issue with this album, which is the nearly two minute long intro track. I just hate this kind of thing. I know it's a mood setting technique, and all that, it's just not one I feel necessary.
"They're by far the best death metal band you've never heard of." These are not things I will let stand in the way of my enjoyment of this record. The songs on this album are musically complex, with wonderfully layered guitar work, and melodic passages which are integrated with the brutal riffing to excellent effect. The vocals are deep and guttural, yet surprisingly understandable, and infectious enough that you find yourself growling along. Unless that's just a quirk I've developed from listening to too much death metal… Nah, there's no such thing as too much death metal!
So, dear fellow death-fiends, please take the time to discover Vital Remains. They're by far the best death metal band you've never heard of. Devour this disc, then spread the blasphemous word like the plague!
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