Immolation Unholy Cult CD

 Absolutely Superb
This cd is purely about the dark mood. Easily my favorite of their cds, you cant help but to put it on repeat and allow it to play all night. It's nearly a crime to play this during daylight hours... Definitely a step up from their previous works, it will readily be enjoyed. Both the lyrics and the outro to the song "Unholy Cult" are awesome. Of all cds I own, this is on my top list - which is hard to achieve, given my rather high standards. This album cannot disappoint.
Submitted by Wōdenhelm (Bedford, VA)
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 Death metal with a brain
Listen to it over and over. It gets better every time.
Submitted by exwinky (Somerset, PA)
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 Unholy Cult is a new face in production and a solid step-up.
A few critics say this is the best album of 2002 and now Immolation seems free from negative production comments, never the less the pioneers from the old school of death metal are back with their 5th album (the 6th if you count their release on Repulse Records). Unholy Cult is a new face in Immolation’s production (many reviewers did not like their old production) and a strong progression in technical ability from Close To a World Below with very odd guitar riffs and rhythms that seem to come from the depths of hell (although the lyrics are far from satanic). One change in the band line-up is the new guitarist Bill Taylor (formerly of Angel Corpse). Thomas Wilkinson left on good terms because a business he runs needed more attention after a partner died (since most death metal musicians need second jobs to survive). Fans won’t find a lapse or missing feeling in the music, since Bill Taylor fits in quite well (and Robert Vigna writes the music). The guitarists continue with the tradition of moody riffs, and a wide usage of pitch levels. Listeners will find quite odd rhythms on the songs Unholy Cult and Rival the Eminent with low toned tumbling-like riffs. The production is rawer than their earlier albums (the traditional swashy production is gone) and the guitars have been most affected. Sometimes in this album you can pick out the bass, where it used to be washed out. A person may be a little disappointed not to hear a stronger bass presence, but they do not use a distorted bass but a clean bass (so the “plucking” won’t be as noticeable). Because of this rawer production, there are no chaotic parts left where the listener would be confused with the rhythm (and people who do tabs will be more able to do them much easier now). Uncharacteristically with other productions this raw, there are very little sloppy parts with the guitars and Immolation keeps its haunting sounds. In parts of this song the reverb has been enhanced which gives a demonic effect to their music (notably on the song Reluctant Messiah with the toms). Some fans may miss the smooth feeling of their previous albums, but the booming sound of Close to a World Below is still there, and like all of Immolations albums it will slowly grow on you. Ross Dolan still remains (probably) the most articulate deep growler on the planet and his lyrics have developed a lot from the earlier albums. No longer are they strictly rebuttals to Christian theology, but the effects of religion in general and what people really give up and buy into. The lyrics are not in a way where you have to bash your brain trying to find the hidden meaning, but in an intellectual way where you can compare them to everyday life. For non-believers you might find this a good expression of some of your ideology and if you are a believer you have to be reading this with an open mind. Some believers, although they don’t agree some of it, can feel exactly where the lyrics are coming from and can grasp the meaning. His growls do not hit a wide range of pitches, but he is no monotone, they vary on intensity and speed by parts that have the stronger of emotion. The drumming is still as unique as ever, and Alex Hernandez makes wide use of all the drums offered to him. Unlike most metal bands, he uses his toms as a strong part of the music not just a transition of rhythms or riffs (again most strongly shown on Reluctant Messiah). Listeners can expect even more complex drumming than before, and the drums being used more like an instrument rather than solely for rhythm. Unholy Cult album opens with an depressing intro (on Of Martyrs and Men) with the bass being very noticeable and having high guitar notes and it exits slow and moody with varied guitar pitches (on Bring Them Down). All the songs are strong and have their unique points (I read a reviewer once being disappointed that there was not a song that stood out as much better than the rest, but obviously he wasn’t looking for overall quality but traditional low pop standards). Immolation remains very solid, and they do their style flawlessly (which is to say they play unique in a technical way) and continually keep it fresh and improving.
Submitted by the_terra_x (Lake Havasu City, AZ, USA)
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