Vital Remains "Icons Of Evil"

Tracklist: 01. Where Is Your God Now 02. Icons Of Evil 03. Scorned 04. Born To Rape The World 05. Reborn... The Upheavel Of Nihility 06. Hammer Down The Nails 07. Shrapnel Embedded Flesh 08. 'Till Death 09. In Infamy 10. Disciples Of Hell Release: 2007 Genre: Death Metal URL: www.vitalremains.com Label: www.centurymedia.com

Caution, now it's getting evil again! Nursery school Satanist Glen Benton was bored again and he thought that he should carry on with some other people than his friends in Deicide. So the little Glen decided to meet his two friends Dave Zuzuki and Tony Larzano to do something different. But little Glen wasn't able to realize, that Vital Remains is not the same as Deicide, and because of that he dedicated all of his hate against Christianity again. So, if Glen Benton got his fingers in the pie you can always expect something diabolic. After I listened to the intro, which was taken from Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion Of Christ" and the first song "Icons of Evil", I had the strange feeling of an déjà-vu experience. A few years ago I've heard an album beginning, which was very similar to the album start of "Icons Of Evil", on Vital Remains "Dechristianize" album. Well at first I was in a pleasant mood, because I liked the "Dechristianize" album a lot, but after 07:33 minutes of the first song have passed, I realized that I was wrong. Unfortunately after that, the blast beat parts slow down and the solo melodic guitar parts are growing unstoppable. Of course, Vital Remains are still blasting like hell, but sadly not that often like on the previous album. In all I have to say, that this record isn't that brutal like the previous album and the melodic parts have been increased again. Sometimes I had to check if there was really a VR record in my CD player and no Joe Satriani CD. Seriously, the solo guitar parts are totally exaggerated. Yes ok on "Dechristianize" we also had many melodic parts, but they were tolerable and not so excessive like here. Personally I would like to hear more clubbing Death Metal parts instead of guitar practice music. Anyway, the band members haven't changed into total pussies. They proof that they're still able to play brutal & fast Death Metal through songs like "Icons Of Evil" or "Hammer Down The Nails". I don't really like to admit that, but I'm very glad that Glen Benton did the vocals again for Vital Remains, beause his vox's are awesome again. Yes, this guy is one of the biggest idiots in the metal scene, but he sounds like the devil himself. "Icons Of Evil" failed if the band tried to excel the amazing album "Dechristianize", but if you have noticed the quality of the previous album, you should know, that this abandonment is very difficult. Also this album here has no big chances against the last album "The Stench Of Redemption" of Glen's main band Deicide. Ok you can call this album "Dechristianize" number two, but way worse. But there is one thing which has been improved a lot and that's the sound production, which was done by Hate Eternal mastermind Erik Rutan, but that is the only thing that makes this album better. Maybe someone can answer me the question, why the hell an evil Death Metal band like Vital Remains is doing a stupid cover version of Yngwie Malmsteen for this album? Is it because it clarifies, that this full length album is also good for people which are into guitar player music and not only for Death Metal freaks? Well, you people can answer this question for yourself, but personally I'm, very disappointed with this CD here, except a few good songs, and the great playtime of over 67 minutes doesn't make the situation better, so that "Icons Of Evil" remains only average stuff and isn't able to beat the previous album. Ah yeah, have you also heard about the rumor, that the band talked about this record before it was released and called it their own "Reign in Blood"? Haha what nonsense, but it proofs that the band got some sense of humor. So if you want to do yourself a favor and you're looking for good satanic Death Metal, you better buy the last Deicide or the previous album of Vital Remains.

Rating: 70 % | from Gore | Date: 13.08.07 | Time: 04:15	shut down