Callenish Circle - My Passion // Your Pain
This album doesn't differ a whole lot from their previous "Flesh_Power_Dominion" album apart
from better production and a slightly more aggressive sound. There's a couple slight cosmetic touches like an industrial/techno intro here and there and more death metal backup vocals than
previously but other than that this is largely an extension of the same speed/thrash metal they popularized on their last record.
That's not to say you're fine just listening to their last album. Like their last record, this thing is full of solid speed metal riffing almost from start to finish. The only time it slows down is for the couple power ballad type songs that frankly I could do without. I'm sure they're meant to break up the pace so this record doesn't get monotonous but they could accomplish the same thing with mid-paced breakdowns like they do on "Dwelling In Disdain" and almost every other cut. It also doesn't help that one of these ballad type songs clocks in at over seven minutes but I digress...let's focus on the strengths.
Most of these songs follow a pretty similar pattern...ultra tight old school speed metal riffing heavily influenced by early thrash punctuated by tasteful leads that are reminiscent of "And Justice For All" period Metallica. If that sounds like they are a throwback to the glory days of thrash/speed metal then you'd be right. There's no crazy time changes, over the top drumming or metalcore mosh parts, just good clean metal sung by a guy that could fill in for Kreator any day. That's not to say this album lacks any of the dynamism of their peers or eschews more modern metal songwriting techniques like aggressive double bass drumming or more melodic Gothenburg style riffs. Songs like "My Hate Unfolds" and "This Truculent Path" blend that stepped up double bass aggression and melody with an old school German thrash sound to powerful affect.
For fans of early thrash and speed metal like Kreator, Sodom and pre-Black album Metallica you really can't go wrong with this release. It's a perfect blend of the straightforward fury of early German thrash with the power, structure and solos of classic speed metal delivered in a more scathing style than any of those pioneers could probably imagine.
That's not to say you're fine just listening to their last album. Like their last record, this thing is full of solid speed metal riffing almost from start to finish. The only time it slows down is for the couple power ballad type songs that frankly I could do without. I'm sure they're meant to break up the pace so this record doesn't get monotonous but they could accomplish the same thing with mid-paced breakdowns like they do on "Dwelling In Disdain" and almost every other cut. It also doesn't help that one of these ballad type songs clocks in at over seven minutes but I digress...let's focus on the strengths.
Most of these songs follow a pretty similar pattern...ultra tight old school speed metal riffing heavily influenced by early thrash punctuated by tasteful leads that are reminiscent of "And Justice For All" period Metallica. If that sounds like they are a throwback to the glory days of thrash/speed metal then you'd be right. There's no crazy time changes, over the top drumming or metalcore mosh parts, just good clean metal sung by a guy that could fill in for Kreator any day. That's not to say this album lacks any of the dynamism of their peers or eschews more modern metal songwriting techniques like aggressive double bass drumming or more melodic Gothenburg style riffs. Songs like "My Hate Unfolds" and "This Truculent Path" blend that stepped up double bass aggression and melody with an old school German thrash sound to powerful affect.
For fans of early thrash and speed metal like Kreator, Sodom and pre-Black album Metallica you really can't go wrong with this release. It's a perfect blend of the straightforward fury of early German thrash with the power, structure and solos of classic speed metal delivered in a more scathing style than any of those pioneers could probably imagine.
