The Summary Judgment Reviews:
Title: open your mouth for the speechless, in case of those appointed to die
Artist: A Life Once Lost
Label: Loudnet.com
Release Date: 1/2/01

Rating: 5 Skulls
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    • Abyss's Review:
    Now if you think the title to this album is a little over done, wait to you hear the stuff inside. It’s really pretty much impossible to compare this to anything, but this album is brimming with talent and well executed, if a bit strange, ideas. Experimental and ambient, vicious and beautiful. There isn’t really any term or genre that is excluded here. I see similarities to Mr. Bungle, Sculptured, Opeth, Brutal Truth, and Phish, but I guess that you could throw any band name into the mix, and it would be easy to defend.

    This disc is brilliant just for its dedication to composition. And believe me, this thing’s composed. Each song incorporates a multitude of genres and moods. From simple, yet effective, guitar dirges, to nearly progressive technicality, this band has an amazing knack for making full bodied songs that most bands would need a full orchestra to achieve.

    I was amazed that there really is no keyboard on this album. With the exception of one song, it’s pretty much all voice, guitar, bass, and drums. I was on my fourth listen before I realized that this band was executing music on the scale of the epic bands with about half of the instruments. This in and of itself is a quite impressive feat.

    One thing that confuses me about this album is that there appear to be printed lyrics to the songs, and as far as I can tell they aren’t using any discernable words being uttered. The vocals remind me of the soundtrack to the Horror movie "Susperia," done by The Goblins. The vocals are growled and evil-sounding, but all they seem to say is “Blah, Blah, Blah” (I apologize for the obscurity of that reference, I’m no Dennis Miller).

    This album is awesome, but is best used for atmosphere, rather than looking for a favorite song. The progressions throughout the album are slow and evolving, making listening to the work as a whole altogether necessary. So as long as you’re not looking for a “hit” song (and let’s face it, we’re metalheads, none of us should be looking for those) this album will provide you with pleasurable and challenging listening material.
    5 out of 5
    ABYSS  Email Abyss

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