I know, I know... "6!?" Well, yeah... 6. Overall, this album showed me how tiring and dull industrial and other experimentation styles mix with Nordic black metal. They don't.
Most of this album, I find that I'm begging for more tracks resembling inferno and Time stands still... and less Renewal and A structure of souls. I know the craze for clean vocals in heavy music has produced some interesting items... this is not short of... interesting in that realm. I've analyzed the album vocals to... over-enhanced vocals that sometimes sound cool, others ridiculous... and some very, very, VERY annoying clean singing with full vibrato and everything. A hint to metal groups who want clean vocals in their music... listen to the styles of opeth, my dying bride, anethema and even saviour machine... there are others... but these groups are acceptable... and often good clean vocals within heavy music. The clean vocs on this album make it more annoying than it's worth.
Granted, I didn't take overly kindly to Burial... this album only makes my claim stronger, that Extol is up with the most over-rated bands of all metal. Along with Creed and Metallica.
Oh yeah... some of the lyrics are good, some are not. With the 8 or nine lines (accumulative) of lyrics that aren't in the lyric sheet for one reason or another, I can only commend what I read... and that is often confusing... not to mention that about half the songs speak of the same thing... just over and over worded in different ways.
Overall, a very lackluster album that is dripping with poorly sounded mixing... bad vocals, and not half the enjoyment of the last album. But I grade higher because of some of their lyrics... some of the music, and some of the album design. Only get this album if Extol remains "lords of metal" to you... as they are programmed to be to so many others.
6/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #84Reviewed by Doug Van PeltRemember Believer? Extol tips their hats heavily to these classically-influenced madmen with the use of violins, and then takes even more progressive liberties. Shrieking black-like vocals are abundant, but the music bed underneath is what dominates. And don't think that vocalist Peter Espevoll is a one-trick pony, either. You can hear his vocal chords breathe a sigh of relief during the melodic…Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco PovervestWow, the new Extol is really a step into the right direction with songs easier accessible than before and with mindcatching riffing. With sonic noises that fill a lot of space, down tuned raging guitarwork and adorned with violins a la Believer in three songs. Also in the riffing I sense a Believer influence. All played skillfully, tight and yet melodic. Production is better and more varied with…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by SFhxcSFYou better be sitting over the toilet and have some of that Charmin triple fluff toilet paper if you've never heard this before, because you will chunk your pants! This cd is sooo amazing! Get this cd now, get it now right now! Stop reading, go to the store buy it, then finish the review if you feel so inclined. Outstanding music, every part of the music is excellent! All of the musicians are…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by GrindboyOk -- everything you've read about this album is true. The musicianship is indeed probably surpassing of every band in Christian music, the songs flat rip, and the lyrics are simultaneously straight-forward and artistic. Indeed, through the first three tracks it really sounds like a 10. What remains, however, is to me quite a tainted masterpiece. Here's the problems I have with this album.…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by undeadMETAL FANS AROUND THE WORLD REJOICE!!!! A mighty upraising has just taken place in Norway. Extol's eagerly anticipated new release is better than any possible expectations. This new disc changed styles a bit, but picks up right where Mesmerized left off. The band is still characterized by the contrasting clean and death vocals, and the melodic guitars. This album, however, carries a lot more…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by WoodensoulNow I have patiently been waiting for this album for a LONG time. And right when I thought I couldn't take it any longer ... it arrives. I was, and still am, very excited about this album. When Burial came out I thought that it was most likely the best Extol could possibly do. But I was wrong ... dead wrong. I was also kinda leery about the adding of a new bass player ... but when I heard…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by SORGThe masters of all metal are back with their second full-length cd and another masterpiece it is! Undeceived is more brutal and "death" oriented than their debut Burial was. With crushing riffs and blurring skill Extol takes metal music over the top and beyond. Extol is still incorporating elements of black metal into their ever evolving sound but I also hear elements of American death metal…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by D_ListerI think the thing to say about this album is simply what I felt about it. This album is exactly what I expected Extol to offer us. Sheer perfection. This without the shadow of a doubt, an Extol album from beginning to end. Now that's not to say it's a duplicate of Burial, or even the tracks from Mesmerized, but rather a continuation of the Extol experience. New ground is traversed with the…Similar sounding releases
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