asdfasdfasdfasdf

Beyond the Sixth Seal
"Earth and Sphere"
-- by Arrowhead on Wednesday, August 6, 2003

BTSS: Earth and Sphere 1.- intro
2.- Medusan
3.- Idol in Human Form
4.- A potent Wind
5.- Faceless
6.- Awaken
7.- A Homicide Divine
8.- Lift High the Banner of Falseness
9.- The Birthing Apparatus
10.- A Subtle Texture
11.- fucked up hidden track. I won't
spoil it.

Beyond the Sixth Seal have gone through a few changes since thier last release, including the coming and going of a few members, but it's all paid off with an album that's filled with thier signature blend of metal, fine tuned and sounding better than it ever has before.

The first thing noticable on this album is the amazing quality of the sound. Recorded with Kurt Balou, most noted for his work with hardcore bands such as Converge and Bane, they've managed to capture each instrument at it's best. Nothing is hidden behind the usual reverbs and triggers that plague other recordings in the genre. The guitars shred, from the high end buzzsaw riffing down to the most minute palm muting, everything comes across sharp and clear. The drums come across loud, tight, and right up front. They sound like you'd expect them to sound if you were there in the room, almost unheard of on most recordings these days. The vocals are by far the best thing I've heard in a long time. Low, grating, and tearing out of the speakers.

The second notable thing on here would be the vocals. Those expecting the same shrieking approach as the last recording will be wholly suprised. Just listen to "The Birthing Apparatus", or "Medusan". It sounds like satan. Not like these other singers who try to sound like satan. More like "hi, I'm satan. You guys sound nothing like me. Now let me eat your babies." Thanks to the addition of the Red Chord's Gunface on vocals, Beyond the Sixth Seal has attained thier heaviest, most interesting release to date.

This whole album is great. The driving, off kilter pacing of The Birthing Apparatus features some of the best vocals and drumming on the disk. Medusan kicks off the album with an assault that goes from frentic neck snapping brutality to maiden-esque riffing and back again. A Subtle Texture hits a listener hard enough to make them hardly notice the incredibly written progressions and melodic guitar parts. My favorite part would probably be the re-recorded version of A Homicide Divine. This song has always been great, but with new vocals and recording it finally is given the treatment it's deserved to so long.

I'd highly reccomend you check this out, it's worth every penny you'll spend. Cd's are available at selected Newbury Comic's locations, or check the bands website at http://www.theredchord.com/btss/

RATING: fuck ratings, just go buy it. Yes, it's that good.