The Abyss
The Other Side
[Nuclear Blast]
This was the first and only worthwile album of Hypocrisy- Tagtgren
project the "Abyss." The other side, is really, and quite surprisngly, a
simply put; classic album. I find it hard to believe that Nuclear Blast
could have released something like this, and that Hypocrisy could have come
toghether, using the same musicians, and produced a black metal album of
this caliber. Life is full of surprises huh?
I guess so, and what a surprise this was. I am going to be so bold as to put this in the same category, both due to originality, and a strikingly resemblent sound, as Mayhem's "De Mysteriis..." They both had majorly influential and unique vocals, and also a very primitive front of guitars that were left unpolluted by the induction of keyboards or any other non-organic manipulative device. The second song on this album, which translates out from Swedish as being "servant of the beast" is honestly one of the best songs I have ever heard. It starts off with a slower paced strumming riff that strangely brings to mind oceans or vast abysses of water (don't ask me whY). Very quickly the beat is changed abruptly from "melancholic" to violent, where Larz begins blasting away behind the throne, keeping the guitar riff the same. This style continues throughout the track, untill the end, where all the music stops immediately making way for a lone duet guitar harmony, played over a distant plucking of notes. This is the most celestial and purely astral sound I have ever heard. The harmony is utterly destroying, and depressing, and every note seems to bring one further down into some personal cave of desolation. These notes fade out, like a far off harp, into silence, and thus, end the song.
The Other Side is also unique in that it incorporates some operatic vocals which I had never heard before in the genre ( another similarity to the last song on "De Mysteriis" ). I wouldn't however associate them directly with the traditional opera structures that you may have heard, because these seem to be based more predominatly on keeping the listener down in depression, instead of rasing her or him into the light of joy.
Overall, the atmosphere the Abyss creates is fantasitic because it fluctuates almost instantaneously between violence (pyscomantum) and an irrefutable sadness or yearning of death (servent of the beast). It's a very emotional experience, and a privelage to have had the chance to have taken it myself. Bravo!! A wonderful production.
© 2002 orodruin
I guess so, and what a surprise this was. I am going to be so bold as to put this in the same category, both due to originality, and a strikingly resemblent sound, as Mayhem's "De Mysteriis..." They both had majorly influential and unique vocals, and also a very primitive front of guitars that were left unpolluted by the induction of keyboards or any other non-organic manipulative device. The second song on this album, which translates out from Swedish as being "servant of the beast" is honestly one of the best songs I have ever heard. It starts off with a slower paced strumming riff that strangely brings to mind oceans or vast abysses of water (don't ask me whY). Very quickly the beat is changed abruptly from "melancholic" to violent, where Larz begins blasting away behind the throne, keeping the guitar riff the same. This style continues throughout the track, untill the end, where all the music stops immediately making way for a lone duet guitar harmony, played over a distant plucking of notes. This is the most celestial and purely astral sound I have ever heard. The harmony is utterly destroying, and depressing, and every note seems to bring one further down into some personal cave of desolation. These notes fade out, like a far off harp, into silence, and thus, end the song.
The Other Side is also unique in that it incorporates some operatic vocals which I had never heard before in the genre ( another similarity to the last song on "De Mysteriis" ). I wouldn't however associate them directly with the traditional opera structures that you may have heard, because these seem to be based more predominatly on keeping the listener down in depression, instead of rasing her or him into the light of joy.
Overall, the atmosphere the Abyss creates is fantasitic because it fluctuates almost instantaneously between violence (pyscomantum) and an irrefutable sadness or yearning of death (servent of the beast). It's a very emotional experience, and a privelage to have had the chance to have taken it myself. Bravo!! A wonderful production.
© 2002 orodruin