Tepes

one of the best death metal bands of all time. period.

a particular and progressive proposal, but of undisputed quality. It takes us back fifteen good years.

Good album, but I love other Scandinavian death. Amorphis were not bad at first, then they became flops.

good one. Ignorant where it’s needed and you really convey the idea well. Well done.

Dear anonymous, I believe you are completely mistaken. I love and adore death from '89 to '93. I love that kind of sound, I love the atmosphere (which unfortunately I didn't experience) of the early '90s, I love that attitude which is now almost completely lost and everything that surrounded it. Your argument makes sense; many of the reviews I've written, rereading them after years, leave me with a sense of dissatisfaction that you can't even imagine. I realize how my perspective on things until three years ago was simply based on "it's technical (good) / it's not technical (bad)." Fortunately, I've moved past the phase where I wanted to convince the world that death metal was an evolved musical reality worthy of being in the pantheon of arts, a phase that inevitably led me to consider less technical records as absolute thorns in my side (they basically messed with my plans, demonstrating to the world how true death requires more attitude than skill). The truth is that even writing on a site like this, where metal is considered metal regardless, has further plunged me into the dull mentality of "it's technical / it's not technical." But don’t doubt that deep down I have always been very clear about the value of a record like this and all the others you mentioned.

appropriate judgment and review. Only for fanatics anyway

I'll respond briefly, otherwise we won't stop here. Yes, I’m a purist, and over the years I’m becoming more of one. In my opinion, metalcore, aside from the distorted guitars and the pumped-up drums, has nothing to do with metal. It lacks the dirty faces, the poorly groomed beards, the smell of cigarettes and beer. It’s missing Satan, the entrails, the blood, the skull tattoos, the upside-down crosses, the leather jackets, the sleeveless vests covered in patches, the ripped jeans… do you understand? This is metal. It’s what they make fun of you for since you were this tall; it’s that sense of a cult that makes the genre different from any other. When I pick up an album from a Death band, this is what I expect. And a band that has given birth to at least three albums in my top ten, I didn’t want them to change course. For what? They didn’t start playing Thrash or Stoner, two genres I don’t like but respect. They started doing this unwelcome crossover of Deathcore and who knows what else. I hated St Anger, but I didn’t despise it. I loved Load and Reload, two albums considered by critics and fans as "betrayals" in a good way. I loved them because, despite everything, they were a strange crossover of Blues, Rock, Southern, and hints of metal. All genres I respect. But metalcore is a genre I don't respect. That’s it. And I won’t delve further.

As for me, they had already sold out enough with the previous album, an album that, after the initial excitement, seemed tired and forced. But here we’re exaggerating. Here they wanted to embrace the most fashionable musical style of the moment, the one that appeals to cool kids who want to be rebellious. And I can't accept this from legends of Brutal Death. They could have included SERIOUS PEOPLE with ATTITUDE in the lineup. Attitude. You can't just become a Death Metaller overnight. Someone who used to sing in a Metalcore band, someone who used to play in a Gothic group, and someone who played in a groove band can only INVENT themselves as death metallers. Now I'm going back to listen to Mortician.

No, no and then no. Stefano, I have a lot of respect for your musical tastes and more than once I've found excellent insights in your reviews, but on this point I cannot compromise. This album is a disappointment. Clean vocals (death metal?) or screamed vocals like a gay teenager experiencing their first sexual encounter, keyboards (death metal?) far removed from those, you know, of Cynic and placed in the hands of someone who has zero attitude. Guitar riffs that only retain the distortion of Death metal. Slowdowns in the style of Carnifex that coming from Cryptopsy make you shiver. Technical? Yes, definitely less than in the past. Technical Death Metal? NO. Martyr makes quite melodic Technical Death.

yes but this robanon has nothing to grind...