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Rating:
Peter Tagtgren is definitely a character in the realm of extreme metal; we can define him as restless, multifaceted, but the word that I believe best characterizes him is "workaholic", that is, a man who has created a form of intense psychotropic addiction through his work/employment: this insomniac maniac easily manages to juggle between running his famous "Abyss Studios", his role as a producer behind the console for major metal calibers (Dimmu Borgir, Celtic Frost, etc., etc.), as well as the father and master of Pain and, of course, our dear Hypocrisy.
A now mythological creature in the field of Swedish school death metal, whether for the long tenure or a series of albums much appreciated by the public and critics (see "Abducted", "The Fourth Dimension" and the self-titled LP), Hypocrisy decided with the previous "Catch22" to give themselves a refreshing update of ideas, an originality matrix that would allow them not to suffocate in the (excellent) routine. Thus, the album in question felt some fairly nu/metalcore American influences, let's say, Slipknot "Iowa" was first and foremost, so fierce and senseless stuff, and in fact, the album still received a strong positive response from critics (I'm not updated on sales data), who appreciated the search for originality, the attempt not to always rely on a style that is indeed winning but also overly explored and known.
So, with "The Arrival," it's completely back to basics; forget influences of any kind, here everything feels like a homecoming, Hypocrisy has awakened in their world made of somewhat melodic Swedish death metal, never fast, very groovy, even easily recognizable choruses and (if the good Tagtgren didn't have a vitriolic vocal cord) almost singable, as for example in "Dead Sky Dawning" or "New World".
In summary, we are faced with an excellent work, magnificently produced (really powerful and crystal-clear sounds) and executed, but, on the other hand, softened or if you prefer, simply an album in which the fury, anger, tension typical of the genre do not find application: only the opener (wonderful and evocative) "Born Dead Buried Alive" and "Stillborn" and the aforementioned thrashy "New World" carry with them the seed of vigor and sonic impact, which otherwise, throughout the entire LP's duration, about 40 minutes, succumbs in favor of slow and dramatic atmospheres which in any case are very pleasant, as in the single and video "Eraser" (the riff, ehmm let's say the chorus is fantastic) or in the concluding and evocative "War Within".
"The Arrival" is ultimately an album of great class, refined and engaging, but it may not take root in all those who appreciated the explosive vitality of the previous work or the overwhelming power of the subsequent "Virus": in short, a work that is quite praiseworthy for listening fluidity and pathos but perhaps a bit tentative, leaving one puzzled about the stylistic direction undertaken by Tagtgren and company.
Nevertheless, I recommend listening to it, at least to form your own opinion.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Eraser (04:26)
Here it comes again the terror you forgot
No memories from the past
The unexplainable starts to appear
As your sub-consciousness begins to come back again
Reality fades away
You try to find a solution
Here it's coming now, indecision
You're free but you can't see through the confusion
[Chorus]
There is no time
No time to regret
The eraser's coming for your life
You got to run
Stay away from the light
The eraser's here to twist your mind
Feel your soul connected to the universe
The solstice is complete
They controlled your thoughts
You will remember now, what it's all about
Twist the end around, violation
It's burning deep and twisting under your skin
It scares you forever
The proof you will find in your dreams
[Chorus]
03 Stillborn (03:24)
I'm standing in the circle of humans
What have we become?
I see the circles clean
I am unable to flee
I slowly arised in the sky
This is the way it feels to die
I have to search, the rest will follow
There's nothing left but my soul so hollow
[Chorus]
I'm floating in the air
Slowly fading away from the earth
I'm guessing to the never when on my way to my empty birth
I've got to stay awake
But my eyelids feels lifeless
I feel like a parasite!
What will happen to us?
Will we ever see the universe?
Will we ever return?
Do we survive?
It's a human curse!
Final destination unknown
Humanity on the go
This is the end
Another beginning
I feel so alone
Like a part of me has died
I feel so weak
I'm falling apart inside
[Chorus 2x]
I'm floating in the air
Slowly fading away from the earth
I'm guessing to the never when on my way to my empty birth
How can you decide?
I'll decide something up
They have come to haunt me now
I swallow my pride, and the tears I've cried
Will never tell the answers why!
Tell me why!
[Chorus 2x]
I'm floating in the air
Slowly fading away from the earth
I'm guessing to the never when on my way to my empty birth
04 Slave to the Parasites (04:57)
A pain worse than anything else
or maybe I'm dead, both trapped in a cage
Alone in my body now a shell deserted or is this the end of my age
Crushed into the bitter end
Is the thing�s I cannot avoid
Drowning in a circle of hell
They won't let me exist on my own
[Chorus]
Slave to the parasites
I can't get away
They won't leave me be
Slave to the parasites
Here they come again
There is nowhere to hide
Seeing my life crushed
I'm all alone
digging into my life
deadly thoughts
The night is fallen
I know they are comming around the bend
They use me as an experiment
which I don't understand
Crashed into the bitter end
Is the thing�s I cannot avoid
drowning in a circle of hell..
They won't let me exist on my own
[Chorus]
They won't get me this time
I can hear them coming closer
I'm not afraid to die
But I'd rather die than someone control my mind
[Chorus]
05 New World (04:09)
Can't you see them coming?
Cannot see the sense of me
All of them decide
Deciding our ups, downs, and misery
Addicted to fleshly skin
Enough for me to swallow and take in
Two worlds collide
One with all the:one with all!
This is the way we serve
It's deadly when it's being wiped away
Both too precious to behold
and praise the new...
[Chorus]
The new world is here to wipe out our lives
The new world we can't survive
The new world left God in everything and everyone
The new world does not include us
Everyone will feel a need to pleasure
To wicked the future race
There will be no more beliefs
All religion will be known
All religious ways
Losing their ability
They'll erase all our memories
No more scriptures
No more lies
No more fucking lies!
This is the way we serve
It's deadly when it's being wiped away
Both too precious to behold
and praise the new...
[Chorus]
The new world is here to wipe out our lives
The new world we can't survive
The new world left God in everything and everyone
The new world does not include us
God, in decay, just making all the rules
Earth, finally, forgot the tombs
Hell Is where I'll be
After my eyes can see
Preceding our, we are the misery!
Hate throughout the end of genocide
Smell of burning flesh inside all, everyone!
Death is coming down, now when we will survive
We're gonna die!
[Chorus 2x]
The new world is here to wipe out our lives
The new world we can't survive
The new world left God in everything and everyone
The new world does not include us
06 The Abyss (04:29)
Butchered infants
For my belief
That will take me to hell
One step closer to death
I release my (anger/ego) to be free
[Monk-style chanting:] (Feel alone again)
I feel no guilt for the lost ones
I'll stab and suffocate
[more chanting]
I look around and see all the pain gone
(Feel alone again)
08 The Departure (05:18)
I came back to life
Naked and tied to the floor
In the corner of my eyes
I saw them coming through the door
All is black
All is white
I open my eyes and face the airport lights
[Chorus]
I stare into the eyes of eternity
I've seen what no man's ever seen
I stare into the eyes of eternity
I've been where no man's ever been
..
..
..
as I look around
I realize I'm all alone
..
..Chills me to the bone
Suddenly rising up in the air
My mind was burning
:I said farewell to the bodies their stealing
All is black
All is white
I open my eyes and face the airport lights
[Chorus]
:
I'll fit right back into the dream
But something here just keeps me awake
And I'm cut wide open
Maybe they search for my soul
This is more than a human can take
And don't tell me I'm dreaming
I know what I saw
I'll feel alive like never before
[Chorus]
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