Morbid Angel
Entangled In Chaos
[Earache]
Finally, what's been anticipated by many, as the definitive
live (err) death metal release, ever. So, is it? well, yes
and no. The production, playing, and selection of songs
are impeccable. Every instrument is clear and audible,
every single on of Pete Sandoval's bass kicks are crisp
and precise; Trey's (and Erik's) guitar(s) slices through
the molten rhythm section like a hot knife thru butter;
Monseiur Vincent's bass rumbles like a thunderstorm, and
he barks like the crazed drill sergeants from Doom2. Yes,
this is quite awesome.
From start to finish, the track listing is thus : "Immortal Rites", "Blasphemy Of The Holy Ghost", "Sworn To The Black", "Lord Of All Fevers And Plague", "Blessed Are The Sick", "Day Of Suffering", "Chapel Of Ghouls", "Maze Of Torment","Rapture", "Blood On My Hands" and "Dominate". All tracks are standouts, pure and simple.
Clocking in at 41:41 (any significance of that figure?), "Entangled In Chaos" doesn't quite fit the legend of the double live album. Witness "Decade Of Aggression", "Live! Bootleg", "Double Gonzo Live", and countless other live/bootlegs by great bands such as Aerosmith, Slayer etc. These live albums were so long they left you physically exhausted at the end of them. "Entangled..." doesn't. Not for want of trying though, its just too short. Come to think of it, is that a criticism ? Or is it the best possible commendation? A bit of both.
The presentation is pretty sparse too, with the inlay book consisting of nothing more than a couple of live photos (check Pete's drum kit out : 9 different types of cymbals! holy shit!) and the tour dates from their "Domination" tour. A few liner notes mightn't have gone astray, that's for sure....(what happened to Trey's thanks list ? The Nintendo sponsorship must've expired...) I mean, for fuck's sake, I've seen M.A. **BOOTLEGS** with better presentation than this!!! It might be just me, but the overall presentation just oozes "half-assed"...
(One little side note here. I heard a few rumblings about the circumstances under which this was recorded - support bands not being able to play cos MA took up too many channels on the mixing desk, etc etc), which is understandable I guess, but for the trouble the guys went to in RECORDING this disc, I can't fathom why there aren't more tracks on offer?!!)
The best way to look at this release, is a "best of", instead of a live album. The material is well chosen (5 songs from Altars!) and it is immaculately produced, so much so, that many people (myself included) believe Morbid Angel never do themselves justice on their studio albums.
RATING - 10/10, but take 2 off cos its too short, and the presentation is pretty ordinary, so 8/10
© 1998 brett
From start to finish, the track listing is thus : "Immortal Rites", "Blasphemy Of The Holy Ghost", "Sworn To The Black", "Lord Of All Fevers And Plague", "Blessed Are The Sick", "Day Of Suffering", "Chapel Of Ghouls", "Maze Of Torment","Rapture", "Blood On My Hands" and "Dominate". All tracks are standouts, pure and simple.
Clocking in at 41:41 (any significance of that figure?), "Entangled In Chaos" doesn't quite fit the legend of the double live album. Witness "Decade Of Aggression", "Live! Bootleg", "Double Gonzo Live", and countless other live/bootlegs by great bands such as Aerosmith, Slayer etc. These live albums were so long they left you physically exhausted at the end of them. "Entangled..." doesn't. Not for want of trying though, its just too short. Come to think of it, is that a criticism ? Or is it the best possible commendation? A bit of both.
The presentation is pretty sparse too, with the inlay book consisting of nothing more than a couple of live photos (check Pete's drum kit out : 9 different types of cymbals! holy shit!) and the tour dates from their "Domination" tour. A few liner notes mightn't have gone astray, that's for sure....(what happened to Trey's thanks list ? The Nintendo sponsorship must've expired...) I mean, for fuck's sake, I've seen M.A. **BOOTLEGS** with better presentation than this!!! It might be just me, but the overall presentation just oozes "half-assed"...
(One little side note here. I heard a few rumblings about the circumstances under which this was recorded - support bands not being able to play cos MA took up too many channels on the mixing desk, etc etc), which is understandable I guess, but for the trouble the guys went to in RECORDING this disc, I can't fathom why there aren't more tracks on offer?!!)
The best way to look at this release, is a "best of", instead of a live album. The material is well chosen (5 songs from Altars!) and it is immaculately produced, so much so, that many people (myself included) believe Morbid Angel never do themselves justice on their studio albums.
RATING - 10/10, but take 2 off cos its too short, and the presentation is pretty ordinary, so 8/10
© 1998 brett