First off I'm the biggest fan of Don't Walk Dead that I've ever known. With that in mind, Time to Die isn't going to be my favorite Metanoia disc, but it's fantastic regardless.
Now what I really loved about Don't... was the way every second of the album was 100% fixed on throwing the listener clean through the nearest wall and stomping on his/her head. I don't believe I've ever heard a more thoroughly devastating record, and Time to Die doesn't seem to attempt to replicate that. It does, however, broaden the Metanoia sound to where we could have once called their sound death metal, I can now only call it Metanoia.
Despite the departures, everything here is still completely true to the Metanoia sound. If you liked their others, you'll like this, too. For such a varied album, the continuity is amazing. You know you're listening to the same band, but it kind of sounds like each track is a cover tune from a different band. "Smashed", for instance, starts us out reminding me of "Acute Obliteration" from In Darkness. . . -- which always made me think Obituary. Then "Paradise" bears resemblance to Horde, and "Now Listen Up" could be a new one from Project 86 (only growled, mind you). Later on, "Corpses" brings da funk (sorry, I don't know any funk bands. . .) and "Is to be Free" is a blatant punk song Metanoia-ized with black metal vocals.
On the whole, I'd say about half the tracks here are the pulverizing death bash-fests that I'd expected, and the other half take that same sound to different styles (or that same style to different sounds?). And yeah, of course it's good. Better than good, even. And though I'll never like it as much as Don't. . . I'll even recognize that the production is WAY better, and I appreciate that there's no farting noises this time. Tack on killer artwork, and this is a fine album that won't get old for a long, long time.
9/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #78Reviewed by Doug Van PeltIn short time, Metanoia has cranked out three albums of tight grindcore. Playing together and writing this much material together is definitely going to force you to gel as a unit. When these guys fire through their dual rhythm licks, you know someone's been practicing. And they're right in the pocket with the drummer and bassist. While the low, grindy vocals will scare some hard music hybridists…Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestIf you take a look at the picture on the cover, you know it's time to die indeed for the old man painted. This is bizarre! I don't think Methushalem ever looked so bad! Judging by the cover you can expect deathmetal. That's true and more: There is blackmetal attached plus grindcore. The first song, Smashed, fits the grindcore category with fast drumming and screaming grunts and shrill noises. The…Dead Zine 1999Reviewed by D_ListerI'm not going to do my typical super long gush thing here. No I'm just going to make a few simple statements. The first is, if you haven't bothered with this album because of your experience with their last album, GET OVER IT...you are doing yourself a huge dis-service. Metanoia has continued to keep themselves at the top of the heap as far as distinctive death metal goes. Yes they have several…Similar sounding releases
2003ZaoLegendary
2005Living SacrificeIn Memoriam
2002Acoustic TormentSchwarzwald
2005UnearthOur Days of Eulogy
1999Deuteronomium...To Die And Gain
1999Edge of MortalityWorld Hate
