Great thread idea apdude, I love music discussions!
Several weeks ago I purchased Reinkaos by Dissection, along with Cabinet by Spawn of Possession.
Reinkaos (Dissection) A quick jump to my iTunes Top 25 Most Played playlist reveals that I have listened through Reinkaos 84 times in the weeks following my purchase. Since Reinkaos clocks in at around 44 minutes, I have spent quite some time reflecting on this album. Hell, I'm listening to it as I write this.
The album can be best categorized as Melodic Death Metal, a style of music descended from the 80's band, Death, that infuses melody heavily into each track- often played out with two harmonized guitars. This kind of music also utilizes the harsh, growling vocals associated with death metal, but uses them as a way of singing as opposed to the repetitive guttural sounds of more traditional death acts.
Reinkaos triumphs in its cohesiveness. I have heard very few other albums that are so well integrated across the entirety of their track list. While the album doesn't include the "Wagnerian" musical themes that many bands use to recall emotions across different songs, the tracks here are bound together lyrically and in their placement within the album itself. Each track is part of the album's narrative progression, and serves a distinct musical and almost literary purpose. You will find no filler in Reinkaos, even the instrumental tracks work to complement the tracks they sit between.
On a track to track basis, the largest strength in Reinkaos' songs are the deep, flowing melodies. It is almost as if the melody of each track tells its own story alongside the lyrics, and unlike most other modern Melodic Death releases Reinkaos' melodies don't feel recycled or familiar (hello, Insomnium!) I find it easy to get lost in listening to just the lead guitar alone, played by Jon Nödtveidt. Which would be a shame, considering Jon's vocals are outstanding in the album.
I didn't care for the vocals in previous Dissection releases, but I found that in Reinkaos Jon really homed in on his skill. His sounds used to be much more airy, and with this last album he finally started pushing the vocals out from deeper in his throat. In the end, his vocals end up sounding more smooth, and infinitely more musical.
The story behind Reinkaos is a dark one, and the largest hurdle when listening are the albums' thematic elements. Those that are made uncomfortable by paganism and the occult should steer clear. Personally I take it as if I were leafing through the Lord of the Rings, that is to say- complete fantasy. Even after just one listen, I knew that the album wouldn't be as interesting without the dark lyrics.
Fans of melodic death metal should definitely give Reinkaos a try.
[ 9/10 ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjN2dcIDlbc----------------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet (Spawn of Possession)Before I buy an album from an unknown band, I will usually head over to their page on Wikipedia or Encyclopedia Metallum. When I went to Spawn of Possession's page, I couldn't help but smile. Amongst their influences sat the names: Johann Sebastian Bach, Sylvius Leopold Weiss and Dmitri Shostakovich- three of my favorite composers. Mind you, Spawn of Possession is a death metal band listing some of the greats as having impacted their music, I expected either miserable pretentious failure or complete victory.
What I got was something in between.
Instrumentally Cabinet is a fantastic work, but I cannot endorse their vocals. These are the same tired, "cookie monster screaming into a toilet "sounds that give death metal a bad reputation. They do serve their purpose, which is to say they that they sound suitably harsh, but would it kill this band to employ some range in their sounds? While I don't find the vocals offensive, I just don't find them interesting. I can say that I was impressed with the speed the singer was able to employ in many of the tracks.
It is easy enough to just tune out the bland vocals and simply focus on the brilliant and technical composition beneath. I was amazed with just how well Cabinet lives up to their influences. True, Bach and especially Weiss are obvious choices, but it is fun to hear what sounds like Bach's cello suites through the lens of a death metal band. What impressed me the most was how well they were able to incorporate the style of Shostakovich. Dmitri's music defies tradition, many of his symphonies feature almost chaotic- high-pitched lurching sounds that are somehow worked into a greater, pleasant whole. Of course, Shostakovich's best works are the darker and more personal ones, and these are the sounds that Cabinet mimics. The influence becomes clear when you reach the title track, and really is a musical treat for fans of both classical and metal.
Without the less-than-memorable vocals, I would have rated Cabinet more highly. Still, the audacity of what they have successfully attempted should be applauded.
[ 7/10]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i6ktZ9P2bY