Now I have patiently been waiting for this album for a LONG time. And right when I thought I couldn't take it any longer ... it arrives. I was, and still am, very excited about this album. When Burial came out I thought that it was most likely the best Extol could possibly do. But I was wrong ... dead wrong. I was also kinda leery about the adding of a new bass player ... but when I heard LENGSEL, I was no longer leery. Even with the front man from LENGSEL playing bass in EXTOL , there are really no comparisons between the two. Now, after all this time, I still find new things in Burial, and I expect the same thing from this album. I will have to listen to this for a long time to fully get a good grasp on the creativity and complexity. Undecieved is utterly beautiful and melodic ... and utterly brutal at the same time. It seems this time around there is even more brutality and an edge. Vocally there is A TON of back up vocals that really add to the music. The third track, Time Stands Still, has some awesome backing vocals from pretty much every one of the members. There is also a great deal of emotion put into the songs and I can tell it took time to make this project. Most of the songs are written by Ole Borud, and you see his dynamic style throughout the entire cd. But this makes it only the better. Great guitar work ... no ... Phenomenal guitar work is the only thing that comes to my mind when I listen to this cd. The technicality of Extol is held by none other. And while the songs are highly technical there is so much originality and soul put into this cd. The technicality does not hinder any of the raw emotions ... this is a deep cd. The Lyrics are very typical Extol lyrics. Evangelistic lyrics that give glory to God. I love this band ... and I could hardly do them any justice by just telling you how good they are. This is definitely a cd EVERYONE needs to check out. EXTOL is at the top of this genre. Undeceived is some of the best Power/Black metal I have EVER heard. And the fact that it passionately glorifies God makes it so much more worth your time. The music of this album will touch your spirit ... if you let it. Go buy it now ... if you already haven't. It's a piece of art ... and I finally see what people mean when they say ... "there is no band like EXTOL".
10/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #84Reviewed by Doug Van PeltRemember Believer? Extol tips their hats heavily to these classically-influenced madmen with the use of violins, and then takes even more progressive liberties. Shrieking black-like vocals are abundant, but the music bed underneath is what dominates. And don't think that vocalist Peter Espevoll is a one-trick pony, either. You can hear his vocal chords breathe a sigh of relief during the melodic…Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco PovervestWow, the new Extol is really a step into the right direction with songs easier accessible than before and with mindcatching riffing. With sonic noises that fill a lot of space, down tuned raging guitarwork and adorned with violins a la Believer in three songs. Also in the riffing I sense a Believer influence. All played skillfully, tight and yet melodic. Production is better and more varied with…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by sesspoolI know, I know... "6!?" Well, yeah... 6. Overall, this album showed me how tiring and dull industrial and other experimentation styles mix with Nordic black metal. They don't. Most of this album, I find that I'm begging for more tracks resembling inferno and Time stands still... and less Renewal and A structure of souls. I know the craze for clean vocals in heavy music has produced some…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by SFhxcSFYou better be sitting over the toilet and have some of that Charmin triple fluff toilet paper if you've never heard this before, because you will chunk your pants! This cd is sooo amazing! Get this cd now, get it now right now! Stop reading, go to the store buy it, then finish the review if you feel so inclined. Outstanding music, every part of the music is excellent! All of the musicians are…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by GrindboyOk -- everything you've read about this album is true. The musicianship is indeed probably surpassing of every band in Christian music, the songs flat rip, and the lyrics are simultaneously straight-forward and artistic. Indeed, through the first three tracks it really sounds like a 10. What remains, however, is to me quite a tainted masterpiece. Here's the problems I have with this album.…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by undeadMETAL FANS AROUND THE WORLD REJOICE!!!! A mighty upraising has just taken place in Norway. Extol's eagerly anticipated new release is better than any possible expectations. This new disc changed styles a bit, but picks up right where Mesmerized left off. The band is still characterized by the contrasting clean and death vocals, and the melodic guitars. This album, however, carries a lot more…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by SORGThe masters of all metal are back with their second full-length cd and another masterpiece it is! Undeceived is more brutal and "death" oriented than their debut Burial was. With crushing riffs and blurring skill Extol takes metal music over the top and beyond. Extol is still incorporating elements of black metal into their ever evolving sound but I also hear elements of American death metal…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by D_ListerI think the thing to say about this album is simply what I felt about it. This album is exactly what I expected Extol to offer us. Sheer perfection. This without the shadow of a doubt, an Extol album from beginning to end. Now that's not to say it's a duplicate of Burial, or even the tracks from Mesmerized, but rather a continuation of the Extol experience. New ground is traversed with the…Similar sounding releases
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