Megiddo
The Heretic
[Goat Perversion]
Before I start I must add this disclaimer - though it is true that Megiddo
and I are on the same label, I am not trying to hype the band in some lame
attempt to gain my own popularity by way of proximity. In fact, it was
because I was so blown away by their first demo "Hymns to the Apocalypse"
and this one (which I'll get to in a second) that I fought to get Megiddo
onto UHR - they wouldn't have ended up on UHR if not for the fact that I
really got into their music to begin with. So yes, while we are on the
same label, that doesn't change the fact that my impression of the music
was formed independent of us being labelmates - besides, I'd like to think
that I'm pretty good at reviewing a release based strictly on the music
itself, independent of surrounding factors like who the band members are
and anything despicable or godly they may have done. So here goes:
The Heretic is the second demo from the Canadian one-man black metal band Megiddo. 5 tracks, clocking in at 22 minutes, simply bowl the listener over with cold, harsh, uncompromising music that again lives up to the description "unholy hateful black pentagram metal". The production is a bit more dry this time, giving a more thrashy edge to the sound (while the first demo had been more atmospheric and 'distant' sounding), and some faster tempos overall move the music a bit closer to the 'black thrash' area of black metal. First up is "Demonomancy", probably the best track on the demo. It starts with some FAST blasting, then settles down into one of those great mid-tempo 'strutting crunch' rhythms they're so good at - the song also features some truly fucking evil lyrics. Next is the demo's title track, and it's a bit faster of an affair, but still quite evil sounding. Third is "A Hymn to the Apocalypse", tied with track 1 for best song on the demo - it's got a fast-strummed melody that is vaguely reminiscent of Darkthrone (circa Transilvanian Hunger, or the faster songs on Panzerfaust), but quite a bit more melancholy-feeling and with some lyrics that are, to me, simply magical; it's like ChorazaiM condensed the eternity-long struggle between good and evil into four and a half minutes. Fourth is "Sacrifice (the Blood Rites)", a re-written/rearranged version of the same song from the first demo. The improved sound gives this song a more vicious edge - better all around. Lastly we have "Earth's Last Picture", a cover of the Darkthrone song from Total Death, that will also appear on Hatred's Multimedia Tribute to Darkthrone project. It's a pretty faithful cover, arrangement-wise, but it also sounds not too dissimilar from what Megiddo does as well - very nicely done.
Overall, it's about three or four monstrous steps forward from Megiddo's first demo, but even if you remember how good that one was you won't be prepared for the assault of "The Heretic". Do what you can to secure a copy.
© 1999 lord vic
The Heretic is the second demo from the Canadian one-man black metal band Megiddo. 5 tracks, clocking in at 22 minutes, simply bowl the listener over with cold, harsh, uncompromising music that again lives up to the description "unholy hateful black pentagram metal". The production is a bit more dry this time, giving a more thrashy edge to the sound (while the first demo had been more atmospheric and 'distant' sounding), and some faster tempos overall move the music a bit closer to the 'black thrash' area of black metal. First up is "Demonomancy", probably the best track on the demo. It starts with some FAST blasting, then settles down into one of those great mid-tempo 'strutting crunch' rhythms they're so good at - the song also features some truly fucking evil lyrics. Next is the demo's title track, and it's a bit faster of an affair, but still quite evil sounding. Third is "A Hymn to the Apocalypse", tied with track 1 for best song on the demo - it's got a fast-strummed melody that is vaguely reminiscent of Darkthrone (circa Transilvanian Hunger, or the faster songs on Panzerfaust), but quite a bit more melancholy-feeling and with some lyrics that are, to me, simply magical; it's like ChorazaiM condensed the eternity-long struggle between good and evil into four and a half minutes. Fourth is "Sacrifice (the Blood Rites)", a re-written/rearranged version of the same song from the first demo. The improved sound gives this song a more vicious edge - better all around. Lastly we have "Earth's Last Picture", a cover of the Darkthrone song from Total Death, that will also appear on Hatred's Multimedia Tribute to Darkthrone project. It's a pretty faithful cover, arrangement-wise, but it also sounds not too dissimilar from what Megiddo does as well - very nicely done.
Overall, it's about three or four monstrous steps forward from Megiddo's first demo, but even if you remember how good that one was you won't be prepared for the assault of "The Heretic". Do what you can to secure a copy.
© 1999 lord vic