I 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 introduction of violins and cellos here and there, and for me it just doesn't get any better than metal with cellos! The brutality of the music that gets played along with the violins is amazing, it just creates a perfect sound. If anything I think the band takes a small step away from the power metal side of things and steps slightly closer to the extreme metal end of the spectrum, but these are both slight movements and don't disrupt the style rather enhances it. Now don't get me wrong, Ole's and Christer's guitar playing is still distinctively their own, it's just instead of these crazy 80's metal styled leads you often get a more black metal influenced piece thrown in the mix. I don't really think the vocal style has changed much at all, however it's a clearer sounding vocal, perhaps mixed a bit higher than on Burial. Even the clean vocals by Ole are still present, and as soul drenching as before. The drums are nothing short of amazing. From blazing double bass, to triplets thrown frantically out during slower parts of songs, fills that tear you to shreds.
The lyrics...well again they are as we expect Extol lyrics to be, full of the spirit and not wavering in any means what-so-ever. It's albums like this one that prove to me that superb music can indeed mention "God", "Lord", "Christ", "Spirit", in all the right contexts, and STILL be extreme, brutal and amazing. Some of the songs content on this album deals with dark, deep, and disturbing matter, but the band never lets a song end without giving the answers to someone who might be dealing with these problems. This album's music stirs the soul, but the lyrics presented here feed it!
I'm not going to drag this out any further, I'm simply going to make one more statement. I've yet to meet someone who enjoys extreme metal and find that they don't like Extol's music, with Undeceived we are presented with another 12 tracks of metal majesty that no one should miss.
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 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…Similar sounding releases
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