Ortega - 1634 - review
Ortega - 1634 - review
Tracklist
01. Still02. Into The Waves
03. Shipwrecked
04. The Siren
05. Octagon
06. Chaser
07. The Oracle
A review by
BitterCOld July 02, 2011
The album 1634 is centered around a nautical theme (I seem to be a sucker for that kinda stuff), recounting the journey of a sailor who gets shipwrecked, wakes up on the Spanish coast, then tries to recall all that happened in the interim.
It starts off with "Still", a clean, simplistic guitar line that lulls the listener in before they drop the tsunami with "Into The Waves." Harsh throated vocals and crushing sludgy doom riffs batter the listener. Those two tracks sort of set the dual-tone for the journey that follows. Ortega shift between and mix the various styles mentioned in the first paragraph to masterful effect. The album ebbs and flows like the tide, with quieter, more introspective passages countered by crunchy blackened thrash (well, somewhere between black and thrash) riffs or pummeling doom. Even when the violin surfaces in an interlude of "Octagon" it's only slightly surprising and fits right in.
Everything flows smoothly, and sounds great. It's a mix of a variety of styles, but one they've managed to master and make their own. I loved it the first listen through and still enjoy it now, months and months later, so it's got some staying power.
Sadly this release - in some really [url= http://thenamelessdead.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/ortega_cds.jpg?w=300&h=225]cool packaging[/url] - was limited to 100 copies. So unless you have a cool hook up, your best bet is to visit the band's facebook page and beg. They offered 100 download copies not long ago. Throw your wretched selves at their mercy.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written on 02.07.2011 by
Written on 02.07.2011 by
BitterCOld has been officially reviewing albums for MetalStorm since 2009. Comments
Comments:
15
Visited by
92 users
 Posts: 40071 |
Posts: 40071
Great album. And, unfortunately, the physical cd is sold out now. The reviewer actually got the last copy 
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 373  |
Posts: 373
TORE Recordings has rereleased it on tape. http://www.torerecordings.com/store.html ..great album btw
Loading...
|
 Posts: 18618 |
Posts: 18618
I hate when reviewers review shit that you won't get unles there's a re-release .P Will check it out though.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Loading...
|
| Posts: 40071 |
Posts: 40071 Written by X-Ray Rod on 04.07.2011 at 02:05 I know quite a few people that actually got this cd as original. So, it wasn't too hard to get hold of. 
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
Loading...
|
| Posts: 18618 |
Posts: 18618 Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 04.07.2011 at 02:08 Wasn't.... Wasn't. Like, not now XD.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Loading...
|
| Posts: 40071 |
Posts: 40071
Last April you could easily have got of it if I wasn't looking 
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 134  |
Posts: 134
Listened to the album again after this review and it still sounds very good. So, spot on with the 'staying power' bit there.
Loading...
|
| Posts: 15360 |
Posts: 15360
For free (or cheap... ) and LEGAL downloads, they have a page at Bandcamp. They upped the 100 to 200. hurry! act now! don't delay. (info about free/small donation is per their Facebook page)
---- 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!
Loading...
|
| Posts: 40071 |
Posts: 40071
Richard Postma (guitar/vocals) says thank you, and the downloads over at bandcamp are going like mad currently.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
Loading...
|
| Posts: 18618 |
Posts: 18618
Holy shit thanks a lot! I'm downloading it right now.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Loading...
|
| Posts: 40071 |
Posts: 40071 Written by X-Ray Rod on 06.07.2011 at 16:00 I think you'll like it.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
Loading...
|
| Posts: 18618 |
Posts: 18618 Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 06.07.2011 at 16:11 I'm getting quite predictable when it comes to my doom
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 257  |
Posts: 257
Super hooked on this album. Great review and thanks for introducing me to them. Really hoping we'll see a re-release of some physical copies of this in the future (vinyl would be sick ).
Loading...
|
| Posts: 40071 |
Posts: 40071 Written by hadriel on 08.07.2011 at 01:08 Aesthetic Death will be rerleasing the cd this month.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 48  |
Posts: 48
1634 is officially available again as of today. http://ortegaband.bandcamp.com/album/1634 http://www.aestheticdeath.com/
---- Only Vunter Slaush is Real
Loading...
|
Hits total: 6307 | This month: 11