Close to a World Below专辑介绍
There are two kinds of artists in this world. One type will create something with their emotions poured out. The other will create something with their brain. Floridian death metallers Immolation, with this release has proved to be a hellish hybrid of both. It is because of this that Immolation is a hard pill to swallow for many.
By this release, Immolation have proved that they are not a just a lumbering beast creating chaos, panic and disorder wherever they go but have turned into a lean and ultimate killing machine. The aural assault is a pestilential swarm of hate and redemption. CTAWB attacks you through an assault of complex time signatures, otherworldly blast beats and the only specimen of guitar work where it seems that the riffs and solos are on freaking fire. Never before has an artwork been so reflective of the music it encases within itself.
A stunning album, “Close To A World Below” is the most important death metal release post 2000. The album has its own black heart and burning soul, a living and breathing work of art that bears the testimony to the legendary four horsemen of the now so certain apocalypse that together combine to form a force so authoritatively known as Immolation. Yes it is true. Immolation deserve to be called legends and that is not an over statement purely because Immolation is one of those very few bands in the history of extreme metal that have aimed to re-invent themselves after a good number of defining releases and not sound crappy at the end of it all. They have breathed such life into a degrading genre and make it completely their own with this release. It would be safe to say that Immolation is to death metal now, what Black Sabbath was to heavy metal and what Dark Angel was to thrash.
In CTAWB, the music does all the talking. Here, Immolation ascend even higher than the standard they set themselves with their previous releases, delivering such ferocity for absolute perfection in song writing that it pushes the boundaries and aims for the absolute. Dolan’s signature growl and underlying bass work, Vigna and Wilkinson’s technical riffs, solos, breakdowns, Alex’s oh so very perfect drumming and blast beats that create a suffocating wall of sound for the listener and brilliant hatred fuelled atmosphere provide the reasons why I rate this album so highly. What’s more Immolation achieved this without any arrogance, pretentious song writing or over production. The mature use the instruments never sound out of context, and attach exceptional emotional depth to the album, acting as a fulcrum to a powerful attack of instrumental sections, soaring scales and fret burning solos.
A disturbing guitar based intro leads us into the first track, “Higher Coward” and makes way for the words, “Didn’t you say Jesus was coming?” and then BOOM. A sledgehammer of sonic brutality hits you in the face and does it over and over again. Don’t beg for mercy there isn’t any. Good luck turning off the music player after listening to this. Tracks like the fan favorite ‘Father, You’re Not A Father’ and the surreally haunting ‘Further From The Truth’ flawlessly merge the traditional Immolation styled death metal sound and unrestrained energy into a wholesome blend of jaw dropping perfection. ‘Fall From A High Place’, ‘Unpardonable Sin’ and ‘Lost Passion’ all display wonderful examples of the bands uncanny knack of tightening the grip on the listener’s throat with each passing beat making him a grateful slave to the new lords of the underworld. ‘Put My Hand Into The Fire’ speaks volumes of the bands attitude and the brilliant 8 minute track showcases the accomplished musicianship and heady extreme harmonies, traits which form the core of Immolation. Thus ends the 48 minute sightseeing of hell.
The sounds on this album conjure visions apocalypse, un harnessed hate, destruction, death, the meaninglessness of God, all of them with equal ease. These tracks herein referred to as works of art possess an innate sense between decay and new life, brutality and subtlety, faith and hate, survival and existence, destruction and creation. The concept of this album in its entirety connects the mystic sense of hell to the edge of extreme metal.
Exceptional lyrics speak with daft introspection, brutal honesty on the band’s part of their anti-God beliefs, speaking even louder if one takes the time out to read between the lines. “The flames from below dance at our feet Soon to rise up and carry us through The burning gates ablaze in glory Marvel at the fall of man”.
With CTAWB, Immolation have re-written the code and gone where no other band has gone before. Immolation has written a chronicle of worthlessness of faith in God which is an ageless classic. The album is lifted into godly heights with its highly charged song writing and its mixture of otherworldly talent and rage. CTAWB is the band’s finest crowning achievement. Fans of the older sound will enjoy this change and will be turned on by the song writing and structures, but if cannot understand the genius of the band’s earlier releases chances are you wont find this interesting, so philistines stay away!.
No self respecting metal fan will pass up this piece of aggression, that was intended to pass one ear and exit the other, leaving a burning imprint in between. Immolation through this release will be known as a band that not only re-invented themselves but an entire genre. This will be forever known as a landmark in the forever shifting scenario that is extreme metal.
Take heed, this is a new beginning my friend… it is written.
- Vaibhavjain, May 27th, 2010
By this release, Immolation have proved that they are not a just a lumbering beast creating chaos, panic and disorder wherever they go but have turned into a lean and ultimate killing machine. The aural assault is a pestilential swarm of hate and redemption. CTAWB attacks you through an assault of complex time signatures, otherworldly blast beats and the only specimen of guitar work where it seems that the riffs and solos are on freaking fire. Never before has an artwork been so reflective of the music it encases within itself.
A stunning album, “Close To A World Below” is the most important death metal release post 2000. The album has its own black heart and burning soul, a living and breathing work of art that bears the testimony to the legendary four horsemen of the now so certain apocalypse that together combine to form a force so authoritatively known as Immolation. Yes it is true. Immolation deserve to be called legends and that is not an over statement purely because Immolation is one of those very few bands in the history of extreme metal that have aimed to re-invent themselves after a good number of defining releases and not sound crappy at the end of it all. They have breathed such life into a degrading genre and make it completely their own with this release. It would be safe to say that Immolation is to death metal now, what Black Sabbath was to heavy metal and what Dark Angel was to thrash.
In CTAWB, the music does all the talking. Here, Immolation ascend even higher than the standard they set themselves with their previous releases, delivering such ferocity for absolute perfection in song writing that it pushes the boundaries and aims for the absolute. Dolan’s signature growl and underlying bass work, Vigna and Wilkinson’s technical riffs, solos, breakdowns, Alex’s oh so very perfect drumming and blast beats that create a suffocating wall of sound for the listener and brilliant hatred fuelled atmosphere provide the reasons why I rate this album so highly. What’s more Immolation achieved this without any arrogance, pretentious song writing or over production. The mature use the instruments never sound out of context, and attach exceptional emotional depth to the album, acting as a fulcrum to a powerful attack of instrumental sections, soaring scales and fret burning solos.
A disturbing guitar based intro leads us into the first track, “Higher Coward” and makes way for the words, “Didn’t you say Jesus was coming?” and then BOOM. A sledgehammer of sonic brutality hits you in the face and does it over and over again. Don’t beg for mercy there isn’t any. Good luck turning off the music player after listening to this. Tracks like the fan favorite ‘Father, You’re Not A Father’ and the surreally haunting ‘Further From The Truth’ flawlessly merge the traditional Immolation styled death metal sound and unrestrained energy into a wholesome blend of jaw dropping perfection. ‘Fall From A High Place’, ‘Unpardonable Sin’ and ‘Lost Passion’ all display wonderful examples of the bands uncanny knack of tightening the grip on the listener’s throat with each passing beat making him a grateful slave to the new lords of the underworld. ‘Put My Hand Into The Fire’ speaks volumes of the bands attitude and the brilliant 8 minute track showcases the accomplished musicianship and heady extreme harmonies, traits which form the core of Immolation. Thus ends the 48 minute sightseeing of hell.
The sounds on this album conjure visions apocalypse, un harnessed hate, destruction, death, the meaninglessness of God, all of them with equal ease. These tracks herein referred to as works of art possess an innate sense between decay and new life, brutality and subtlety, faith and hate, survival and existence, destruction and creation. The concept of this album in its entirety connects the mystic sense of hell to the edge of extreme metal.
Exceptional lyrics speak with daft introspection, brutal honesty on the band’s part of their anti-God beliefs, speaking even louder if one takes the time out to read between the lines. “The flames from below dance at our feet Soon to rise up and carry us through The burning gates ablaze in glory Marvel at the fall of man”.
With CTAWB, Immolation have re-written the code and gone where no other band has gone before. Immolation has written a chronicle of worthlessness of faith in God which is an ageless classic. The album is lifted into godly heights with its highly charged song writing and its mixture of otherworldly talent and rage. CTAWB is the band’s finest crowning achievement. Fans of the older sound will enjoy this change and will be turned on by the song writing and structures, but if cannot understand the genius of the band’s earlier releases chances are you wont find this interesting, so philistines stay away!.
No self respecting metal fan will pass up this piece of aggression, that was intended to pass one ear and exit the other, leaving a burning imprint in between. Immolation through this release will be known as a band that not only re-invented themselves but an entire genre. This will be forever known as a landmark in the forever shifting scenario that is extreme metal.
Take heed, this is a new beginning my friend… it is written.
- Vaibhavjain, May 27th, 2010
Close to a World Below专辑歌曲
- disc 1