Enslaved - Vertebrae - guest review
Enslaved - Vertebrae - guest review
Tracklist
Disc I01. Clouds
02. To The Coast
03. Ground
04. Vertebrae
05. New Dawn
06. Reflection
07. Center
08. The Watcher
Disc II [Limited edition - Live At The Rock Hard Festival, Germany, 2008]
01. Path To Vanir [live]
02. Fusion Of Sense And Earth [live]
03. Bounded By Allegiance [live]
04. Violet Dawning [live]
05. As Fire Swept Clean The Earth [live]
06. Isa [live]
07. Return To Yggdrasil [live]
08. Ruun [live]
Guest review by
LordFezzington January 06, 2012
So I check out "Ground" online. I think it took days for the smile to leave my face; this was definitely not crap. Here was a song with substance. No, not substance? with backbone. The Pink Floyd-ian solo is simply dreamy, the main chords wash over you like the swelling of waves, and there is still room for some bite: in the vocals, in the riff tailing the main chord progression. And the sing-a-long section at the close? Epic.
"Ground" serves as a microcosm of Vertebrae as an album. It possesses many moments of transcendental beauty, both lyrically and musically, but still retains hints at Enslaved's more aggressive past. Indeed, parts of "New Dawn" play out much like a traditional black metal assault, replete with blast beats and rasping vocals, yet the song ends with a dreamlike, spaced-out keyboard section. It is this variety that is Vertebrae's strong suit. There is absolutely zero chance you will think you've listened to the same song somewhere else on the album. "Clouds" opens the album with a pseudo-math metal intro. There are elements of Tool in "Center." On "Reflection," the total simplicity of the main riff and its percussion blend with an almost Joe Satriani-esque solo. The whole song is veritably hypnotic.
Of course, the slightly hypnotic, dreamlike feel could well lead to some listeners becoming slightly, well, shall we say? drowsy. This is not an album to be described as intense. Or to be used as an alarm. Some of the slower parts drag a little, and you might find yourself waiting a while for one or two tracks to really get going. However, interest and flow is pretty well maintained throughout; there is no inexplicably jarring ambient track to get in the way as on follow-up Axioma Ethica Odini. With Vertebrae Enslaved are to be commended for their ability to genre-bend so seamlessly and to progress and develop as a band while remaining true to their darker roots. No "sell-out" label here please. Really, if you haven't heard this album, do so immediately. Last one to do so is a total coccyx?
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written by LordFezzington | January 06, 2012
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Comments
Comments:
12
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 Posts: 21306 |
Posts: 21306
You say hypnotic, I say boring. Good review though.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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 Posts: 9570 |
Posts: 9570
I have their new album, didn't like that one much, probably wont like this one either. nice review 
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 Posts: 406 |
Posts: 406 Written by Troy Killjoy on 06.01.2012 at 00:27 The beauty of music - for two people to listen and hear completely different things!  Written by Troy Killjoy on 06.01.2012 at 00:27 Thanks. Am hoping to get into reviewing a bit more this year, so a compliment from a Staffer is much appreciated. 
---- "Pay no heed to anyone and do what seems right to yourself." - Franz Kafka, The Trial 2022 List: https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=7001 2021 List: https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=6742
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| Posts: 406 |
Posts: 406 Written by Boxcar Willy on 06.01.2012 at 00:30 Thanks. I couldn't get into Axioma much either. Really like this record though - though I expect that's fairly obvious from my review... 
---- "Pay no heed to anyone and do what seems right to yourself." - Franz Kafka, The Trial 2022 List: https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=7001 2021 List: https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=6742
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| !J.O.O.E.!
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| Posts: 406 |
Posts: 406 Written by [user id=4365] on 06.01.2012 at 00:37 I have to say I toyed with docking the score a shade on the basis it sounds a little flat now and again, and let's be fair - Terrorizer quite often don't know what they're on about!
---- "Pay no heed to anyone and do what seems right to yourself." - Franz Kafka, The Trial 2022 List: https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=7001 2021 List: https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=6742
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| !J.O.O.E.!
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 Posts: 2751 |
Posts: 2751
I actually agree with the review, but enjoy Isa and AEO slightly more, depending on mood. The slower portions of the album could have been better, as you stated. Drowsiness is not a symptom you usually want to induce, but hey, maybe it's what they were going for. Black Floyd, never giving a fuck.
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 Posts: 15358 |
Posts: 15358
I really like the album, even if they lean more to the prog side than their bm roots on it. i'd have scored it a little lower, but still high enough that for "album votes" i rounded up to a 9. well done.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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Posts: 5282 Written by BitterCOld on 06.01.2012 at 01:17 this ^ As I have stated before black metal scares the bejesus out of me. This is the very first black metal album and band I checked out. After listening I am thinking geez, is all black metal like this? The album has enough other musical elements to keep me interested and at a very high level.
---- rekt
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 Posts: 5989 |
Posts: 5989
I checked out "Ground" today, and you're right. Parts of it do remind me of Pink Floyd. I haven't listened to much of Enslaved's newer shit, but I love any band that can blend raw intensity with a progressive/ambient/atmospheric undertone. Nice review, will definitely give this one a spin! 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 677  |
Posts: 677
I love this album like anything else they've done. Almost just as good as their newer album, I think...
---- My lo-fi synth project: http://luciddreamer.bandcamp.com
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