|
Rating:
9.0 |
Weakling - Dead As Dreams
2000
01. Cut Their Grain And Place Fire Therein
02. Dead As Dreams
03. This Entire Fucking Battlefield
04. No One Can Be Called As A Man While He'll Die
05. Disasters In The Sun
Weakling are one of the most important bands in the United States Black metal scene. Dead As Dreams, their post-mortem debut album, is both emotionally riveting and intensely raw. And although it is hard to get because of its limited release, with five songs clocking in over 75 minutes, it's worth every penny!
Weakling's main characteristic is their frequent juxtaposing of galloping and droning riffs. They run off into a blood-hungry battlefield-riff just as easy as they dwell in drawn-out multi-layered drones. But there's more.
Starting off with "Cut Their Grain And Place Fire Therein", with its ten-minutes the shortest track on the album, you immediately know you're in for a treat. The distortion is raw and ravished, the production likewise and the mood is set. A lead guitar gradually becomes more prominent until it evolves into an ugly, dirty solo. The title track is next and - clocking in at twenty minutes - the longest track. It starts off with a gray, hazily-distorted intro, which is surprisingly beautiful after the rage and ugliness of the opener. It quickly morphs back into pure hatred again, though, only allowing the listener a quick breath. And we continue this way - intense Black metal alternated by sections of beauty and / or calmness. The great thing about Weakling is that the raging Black metal still sounds beautiful and the calm parts still sound bleak and wretched.
My only point of criticism focuses on the vocals. John Gossards screeches are definitely not among the best the genre has to offer. Often yelling rather than screaming, he sounds weak and occasionally even awful. But looking at it from a different angle, he does fit with the general concept and music of Weakling. It'll just take a while to get used to them.
Dead As Dreams is an incredibly varied release which never drags during the entire seventy-five minutes. They go from droning to raw and wild to epic to heart-wrenching in a matter of moments. Although it has the sound of a Second Wave worshipper, it is actually quite progressive at heart. Weakling's Dead As Dreams is a captivating album and a must-check for the seasoned Black metal fan. It's one of those albums you have to hear while sitting in a comfy chair, in the dark, with full volume. Then you'll know what it is like to be dead but dreaming...
|
Performance:
|
9 |
|
Songwriting:
|
10 |
|
Originality:
|
8 |
|
Production:
|
8 |
|
|
Written on 08.03.2010 by
Lucas
If you're interested in extreme, often emotional and underground music, check out my reviews. I retired from reviewing, but I really used to be into that stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
|
| Comments: |
17
|
|
|
Users visited:
|
161 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
How did I ever miss this? I looked into their MySpace and listened to a few tracks... This is what black metal should be. As for the vocals, I think they fit the music perfectly as they come off very "dirty" or "rough", which really benefits the more eerie atmospheric sections. A 9.0 indeed. I have no ways or means to actually obtain the album, so I guess I'll have to keep it in good memory.  |
|
|
|
| It's a great album that can at least be obtained virtually if not physically. nice work with the review. |
|
|
|
|
|
 Mikyz - 13.04.2010 at 09:34
|
|
|
Classic BM album, the musicianship on this and the mood it creates is astounding, overwhelmingly suffocating. As for the vocals, I read in some interview that they were actually looking for a vocalist before recording but they never actually found one so Gossard was pushed into a corner and didn't have any other choice than doing the vocals himself. But now that i got used to his vocals I can't imagine it otherwise it would ruin the overall image imo. Great review btw  |
|
|
|
| One of the best BM albums made. Ironically the album is made by band members that are not in black metal bands, and they mastered what most BM musician been trying to master for years. |
|
|
|
| A classic release indeed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by disarray on 21.04.2010 at 19:15
Weak.
Go back and listen to more of your H.I.M., don't rate a genre that you clearly dont appreciate. And no please dont reply and tell me cradle of filth is bm. |
|
|
|
Written by HardSide on 21.04.2010 at 19:55
Written by disarray on 21.04.2010 at 19:15
Weak.
Go back and listen to more of your H.I.M., don't rate a genre that you clearly dont appreciate. And no please dont reply and tell me cradle of filth is bm.
|
|
 Lucas - 21.04.2010 at 20:32
|
|
|
Hey hey, let's not attack each other on taste here. Although a one-word comment IS spam and that IS forbidding. Even if the one word is 'fantastic' or 'amazing'. 
So please, elaborate. |
|
|
|
| I never had a problem with the vocals on this. They fit perfectly to the music, very sorrowful and full of lament and anguish. Great CD I'm glad I was able to get a hard copy. |
|
|
|
Written by disarray on 21.04.2010 at 19:15
Weak.
Don't understand this at all. This is probably one of the best black metal albums around. Please, explain yourself. |
|
|
|
Written by BoxCar Willy on 10.11.2012 at 01:59
Don't understand this at all. This is probably one of the best black metal albums around. Please, explain yourself.
Indeed. I'm not as crazy about this as I used to be but it's very good and one of the most influential albums for modern black metal. |
|
|
|
Written by !J.O.O.E.! on 10.11.2012 at 02:05
Written by BoxCar Willy on 10.11.2012 at 01:59
Don't understand this at all. This is probably one of the best black metal albums around. Please, explain yourself.
Indeed. I'm not as crazy about this as I used to be but it's very good and one of the most influential albums for modern black metal.
Same... I don't get my panties wet over it but when I heard it the first time the first thing I thought it's how incredibly solid this is. So far from weak. |
|
|
|
Written by disarray on 10.11.2012 at 15:12
Here's my explanation:
an answer such as this is not allowed.
If you post pictures as an answer words have to accompany it in a meaningful manner.
Just " Here's my explanation" and then posting cryptic and vague pcitures does not consitute a proper answer on this forum. |
|
|
|
^^Okay...?
Really wish i could find this on Cd too, but fat chance of that happening. |
|
|
mz - 10.05.2013 at 00:55
|
|
|
| I think the vocals fit perfectly with music and atmosphere. Could not imagine this album without them |
|
Advertise on Metal Storm
|
Similar topics
Hits total: 4563 | This month: 68 |
