Cross Rhythms scores big with this release. Just buy it and find out why. If you haven't already, you are missing out and are way behind. If you have ever thought to yourself, "Boy I wish there was some more really good Christian death metal out there," your prayer has just been answered. All four bands, five if you count the bonus track, play top-notch death metal. Let's break this cd by the bands...
If you didn't like Death List (ex-Obliteration), like me, you will probably be surprised by what Death List gave up when they ended Obliteration. Obliteration has a similar sound, but that is to be expected. However, if you can imagine Death List replaced the scared-to-be-death metal vocalist and cheesy, lame riffs with a darn good vocalist and some pretty tight metal riffs, then you have Obliteration. They still had the same great drumming back in those days, but Obliteration's drumming sounds better too. I guess it's because the obscure tom-toms and jungle type beats have been taken out. Obliteration was truly good, too bad they're gone. Evisceration is obviously lacking a little in the production department but which band's demos aren't? Aside from that, Evisceration plays yet more talented death metal. I don't know why but to me, the word "brutal" doesn't really seem to fit these guys. Instead, what you have is some above-average Christian death metal. However, they kind of lack any one thing that really makes them stick out. I do have to admit though, I got these guy's music stuck in my head a couple of times and became frustrated because I couldn't figure out what I was singing for while. So I guess the phrase, "catchy but not memorable," suits Evisceration. The drums are solid. The vocalist is good but not great like someone along the lines of Luke Renno. The guitars seem to be higher pitched and really lack that kind of neck-breaking crunch I love in death metal. Although my statements on this band are not extremely complimentary, please remember that it's because I have to compare them with all the others on this cd. By themselves, Evisceration is fine, but next to Disencumbrance, they fall a little short.
I'm not even going to lie to you, I think these three songs by Disencumbrance are probably the best three Christian death metal tracks ever recorded. Sure, there is plenty other great stuff out there but once you hear this, you'll understand why I say that. The only problem with Disencumbrance is that their guitar solos are lame and usually over stay their welcome. Besides that, the guitars definitely crunch, the drums are incredible and the mixture of the two vocals is awesome. Not to mention, they have a cool anti-satanism message attached to all their songs in a way in which they tell a story. The demo does a better job of telling that story but who cares with music as good as these guys.
Oblation is actually a band whose bassist actually produced this entire cd. That's right, good ol' Alan T - the man, the myth, the legend. He really does a great service to people like you with Cross Rhythms Music. I encourage all of you to buy something from them. Just take a link located in our zine to their page and order away. I've probably spent a good $2000 there since I first got involved in the scene. Anyway, back to the music before I fall asleep right in the middle of this review. Oblation has yet more crappy guitar solos, except for one I really like. Besides that, Oblation plays great death metal. The vocals are deep and spiteful sounding, the drums are full of blasts and double bass and the riffs are definitely mosh-worthy. No it's not too good to be true... that makes four bands just like that on one cd.
I guess that's about it. Buy it and enjoy. By the way, the bonus track is just that, a bonus so don't get too upset when you don't like it.
10/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #76Reviewed by Doug Van PeltHere's a Cross Rhythms sampler disc, put out by someone who knows extreme music - Alan Tregoning, who moved to Dallas from Australia 5 or 6 years ago to join Oblation. That's death metal loyalty! Here we get to feast on some meaty and solid metal. We get 4 tracks by Obliteration, 3 by Evisceration, 3 by Disencumbrance, 4 by Oblation, and a live track from Alan's old Aussie band - Flesh Walker.…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Chris KingCross Rhythms Music (CRM) has done the extreme Christian metal underground a big favor in releasing this compilation. Chords of the Grave is essentially the re-release of demos by four different death metal bands. Obliteration starts the compilation off with a killer, brutal death metal sound. Despite not breaking much new ground, their classic American death metal growling and playing is done…Dead Zine 1998Reviewed by NecRoSarXFriends. Countrymen. Fellow metalheads. Lend me your rears. So that this CD may soundly kick them hard, fast and continuously... For those of you who have yet to assimilate this compilation into your extreme metal collection, hang your collective heads in SHAME. For this one CD, by its very existence, represents the audio equivalent of the dead rising from the grave. No joke. All four of these…Dead Zine 1998Reviewed by FetusChords of the Grave is my new kitty, get your own! Four (OK 5, kind of) bands in one tidy package, and as often as the "death" name is falsely slapped on anybody with distortion, everybody reeks of death here, no question. Unfortunately, "death" seems to be the fitting term because all of the bands are no longer (the B in Bummer.) OBLITERATION (4 tracks) Why did these guys change their sound when…Dead Zine 1998Reviewed by D_ListerGonna keep this one short and sweet for a change of pace ! BUY THIS CD NOW, and you should be ashamed for not having it already! There that felt good, now lemme get down to details. I've heard it time and time again, that the Christian Death Metal scene does not exist, and that there is not good Christian Death Metal. Well to the best of my knowledge, only one of the bands on this CD still is…Similar sounding releases
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