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    Critical Mass #3/Kohllapse
    Kohllapse — Kohllapse cover

    Kohllapse

    Kohllapse

    (1996)

    Reviewed by Tom Edmondson

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    Label independentCritical Mass #31997
    doom metalgothic metalprogressive metal

    This CD is one of the finest, most refreshing Christian CD's I've heard this year. After listening to this disc and realizing what other really great bands come from Australia, I've just about decided to move there.

    The music on this disc is best described as Progressive Metal. Some may want to use the word Gothic but I'm not convinced. Maybe we should call it Ethereal Metal. Of the comparisons I've read so far I am most in agreement with the Tiamat comparison. This disc has a very similar sound and feel to Tiamat's Clouds album and somewhat to the Wild Honey album. Another comparison--though this one is not one of my favorites--is recent music from Anathema ala The Silent Enigma or Pentecost III (I don't have Eternity). Finally, I'm sure there is some justification in the Pink Floyd comparison but I'm not into PF and wouldn't know for sure. In contrast to this, I am in total disagreement with the comparison to Trouble. I have all of their albums and have been listening to them for 11 years and I hear no similarities.

    Those of you who want a Christian Metal group to compare this to let me give you the closest comparisons I can think of. Here goes: Paramaecium, Schaliach (to a lesser degree), Virgin Black (a lot), and the song "Time" on Deliverance's Learn album. My belief is that this album will intrigue you right off and then will continue to grow and grow and grow on you.

    The subject matter on this album is very much in line of what you would expect on an epic/progressive metal album: pain, comfort, serenity. And there is one little surprise on track seven, "An End To Pain" which is an all out black metal song in the vein of Darkthrone or Emperor (another of the comparisons). Otherwise it's really hard for me to describe this one to you. Let's just say that I really like this disc.

    Similar sounding releases

    2000Virgin BlackSombre Romantic2004AletheianApolutrosis1998AntestorThe Return of the Black Death2005IlluminandiThe Beginning...1998KekalBeyond The Glimpse Of Dreams1995MoonspellWolfheart

    More from Kohllapse

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    Also in Critical Mass #3

    1996SanctumLupus in Fabula1997Living SacrificeReborn1997King JamesThe Fall1997Lordian GuardSinners in the Hands of an Angry God1996Ashen MortalitySleepless Remorse1996Seventh AvenueTales of Tales