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Song Listing:
1.Inferno
2.Undeceived
3.Time Stands Still
4.Ember
5.Meadows Of Silence
6.Shelter
7.A Structure Of Souls
8.Of Light And Shade
9.Where Sleep Is Rest
10.Renewal
11.Abandoned
12.And I Watch
label: 2000 Solid State Records
Lineup:
Peter Espevoll Vocals
Christer Espevoll Guitars
David Husvik Drums
Ole Børud Guitars & BGV
Tor Magne S Glidje Bass
Guest Musicians:
Tarjei Nysetd Violins, Brass Ida Mo Cello
Whoa, that's some heavy stuff that the Norwegians of EXTOL present us with... Wes had reviewed this album more than 1,5 years ago already and only now it gets released via a big label, must be frustrating for a musician, but well, that's "business"┘
Who searches for a CD that hits at the first time, can completely forget EXTOL, because "Undeceived" takes a few rotations to get into, because the mix that this quintet is playing is not really easily digestible. Basically you could put them into the Death Metal-category, but this band is a lot more and I'll try to bring this to screen.
Take the heaviness of traditional Death Metal and combine it with the emotional variety of OPETH, partly the a bit abstract song-structures of MESHUGGAH, a good portion of melodies and some violin, clean vocals (with a few elements could be seen as slight Power Metal-influence) are in the mix, too. Everything clear? OK, because it takes a while before this piece gets clearer.
The instrumental talents of the musicians are, and I can say this without exaggeration, phenomenal. The performance of drummer David Husvik alone lets the chin drop to my knees even with a non-musician as myself, but also the rest is brilliant! The art of this style is to keep the songs accessible still and mostly this is the problem here, some of the structures are pretty far out and make it pretty difficult for the listener to find his way inside.
Still, the mix is what makes it and that one really has something going, the songs never get boring, even though a few break the 6- and even 7-minute-barrier. You just have to take your time and give it to the CD, to be able to grasp this demanding music, because then you'll be rewarded with an extraordinary and very good album.
Oh yes, two bonus-tracks can be found towards the end as well, the "Paralysis"-single from 2001, only released in Sweden. The last track, "Shadow Of Death", is a cover-version of Thrashers BELIEVER, if anybody knows them┘
So, all, who can deal with more complex music within Death Metal, let this record melt in your ears for a while, but like said, take some time, yet it is worth it...
