The 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 coming in to play at times such as the Embodyment-like riff towards the beginning of the track "Time Stands Still". Utilizing instruments such as the violins and cello the music weaves a tapestry of sound unequaled by any band I have ever heard. The vocals, which sound better and more consistent than on Burial, are harsh and hypnotic staying mostly in a unique mid-range death style. The guitars are melodic, fast and intense bringing in new influences and capitalizing on the old. The sound overall is very similar to what we heard on Burial with frantic movements, odd time signatures and on the spot changes. They do slow things down a bit on 2 instrumentals (showcasing the brilliant guitar work of Ole Borud and Christer Espevoll) and one "industrial segue" track that was written by Sanctum. Extol seems to be experimenting some on the doomy melodic track "Shelter" which is capable of crossing over boundaries and might make a few goth/doom fans sit up and take note, but even this track features some great double bass and double picking. Ole Borud's clear and majestic vocals make several appearances here also, reminding me almost of Dream Theater or Teramaze on the intro to "A Structure of Souls". There are even a few "groove" styled riffs scattered sparsely throughout this recording. All in all this could be summarized as something like In Flames meets Living Sacrifice with a hint of Believer and Dream Theater, all topped off with the unique, unmistakable and very original sound that is Extol! This is a must have cd!!
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 WoodensoulNow 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…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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