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Review Summary: V:28's final album is a dark and bleak journey through mans last thoughts before Armageddon. Armageddon, described in the bible as an epic battle between good and evil that destroys all of mankind. Armageddon has been a prophesized event for centuries by many famous religious folk, astrologists, writers etc. With a common plot winding through all of their stories, different interpretations of this legendary story have been said each time. V:28 has made their career, or at least their last three albums, a concept about the story of ‘the death of man’. Violution sees their concept coming to an end (ironically), and the final outcome ensures bleakness for the human race.
As cliché as this story sounds in the heavy metal world, God Forbid and Nine Inch Nails come to mind, V: 28 pull this album off rather successfully by not only telling a story through bleak lyrics, but by instilling their ideas further with an album that will make you feel like hell. By hell, I mean that the music doesn’t sound wretched like how the second wave black metal bands made you feel the first time you were exposed to them; but through stellar musicianship that encapsulates the mood of the Armageddon concept. Hell, even the front of the album depicts a billboard on a wall showing an atomic bomb dropping onto a country. Its almost as if they are trying to lure you into these dark thoughts with propaganda, judging by the rather cartoonish picture on the billboard. Violution is an album that has some great ideas and songs that might make you want to kill yourself (not literally of course).
Lyrically, this album is depressing as hell. The lyrics tell a story of the last thoughts of human beings ie. no mind, no form, now ceased of all morals, deprived of all judgment, abandoned by life from the song The Absolute, all the way to when the final bombs are dropped that destroy everything and everyone ie. Hiroshima, New York, Moscow, Berlin, oh what a perfect day to drop the bomb, to settle it once and for all, drop the bomb, incineration heat, blast radiation, watch the world mirror its creation in devastation, fifty megatons of death from the skies, and the earth will light up like the sun from the appropriately titled song World Wide Bombing Day. These guys certainly know how to create an atmosphere of chaos and hatred towards man when scathing lyrics like this are sung or projected in a deep, raspy growl.
But what good are lyrics without solid musicianship that captures the essence of the theme. Mixing black metal, industrial and some melodic death metal, the band has fused these influences into one cohesive sound that flows incredibly well from one track to another. Lush keyboards, reminiscent of the symphonic black metal movement, add texture and depth to the blackened tremolo picked, melodic guitar lines that wind in and out of the chunky, almost breakdown like, open powerchord chorus’s and verses. Electronic noises give the music a very mechanical feel and integrate well into the atmosphere. The tempo of the music flows effortlessly between fast and slow, making good use of transitions that give each song a unique appeal. The drumming is tight, especially during the faster moments, and its uncomplicated nature adds that perfect touch to the mechanical feel of the music. The bass is practically inaudible and doesn’t add anything to the atmosphere that this album is trying to convey.
Conclusively, I have to admit that this was one of the most overlooked albums of 2007. Heavy metal is about dark imagery and these guys deliver. Its almost scary how well they deliver this hybrid of industrial/black metal, and it almost makes me feel like I’m standing at the edge of time, when all of mankind has their one last breath, before we kiss our asses goodbye. V:28’s Violution is an album that will not disappoint!
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Album Rating: 4.5
I feel pretty good about this review!
Ballstothewall, this ones for you!
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Nice bro, nice. One of the albums that I was anticipating to be reviewed. Great underrated band, the track with Garm is spectacular. I have SoulSaviour but need to get this. Great review, great band as well.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Thanks dude. I thought you would like this! My rating is a little higher than the actual review because I don't feel alot of people would rate this that high, well maybe. Trying to keep biasm out.
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I know what you mean. I feel compelled to rate my Draconian review to a 4.5 based on how much I enjoy playing it but due to it not really being completely unique, 4 seemed more appropriate.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
This album might get the honour of a 5 if the replay value is good. This album just hit me so hard, as you can tell by the review, and I absolutely love concepts like this when they are done right.
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Sounds interesting This Message Edited On 02.01.08
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Solid review, good to see you reviewing some albums :D You said what needed to be said and you said it well. I will most likely look into this.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Thank you Crysis. That is certainly a great compliment, coming from someone who knows how to right passionate reviews. This album has your style of music written all over it. I know you enjoy dark atmosphere in your metal and this album will surely deliver that.This Message Edited On 02.01.08
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I need to stop reading so many reviews before I go broke! You write good reviews when you get the urge to write one ;)
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Never say God Forbid to me, I hate that band, sooo overated. I took a little look at itunes, this sounded interesting, nice review.
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They're better than some of the metalcore bands you listen to though Pebster.
This sounds pretty interesting. Nice concept too.
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More like underrated, God Forbid is awesome. Agree with Confessed's comments. Good band, still need to order this.This Message Edited On 02.02.08
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God Forbid are a decent band ,not keen on the clean vocals and the lyrics can be a little naff but I love their guitar tone and the Coyles can shred BUT I've just remembered this is a review for V28 !
Good review...this has been on the wish list for a while but somehow I keep forgetting to pick it up......weird This Message Edited On 02.02.08This Message Edited On 02.02.08
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I'm not commenting anymore until I learn to type and/or read!
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Pebster49, what is it about God Forbid that you hate? They are pretty solid if you ask me (great guitar riffs/ solos, drumming is tight, vocals are impressive in both singing and screaming).
Willie, Confessed, Balls, hermitspancho, Thank you all for your kind acknowledgements to my review.
Good band, still need to order this.
Balls, I ordered this and Soulsaviour for 27$ off omegaorder.com. That was the only place I could find it cheap.
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Excellent review. I'll have to add this to my list of things to look into.
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This band is pretty good. God Forbid suck because they are uninteresting and unoriginal. Their vocals suck horribly, their guitar parts are trite, and their drumming is nothing special.
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I agree with ^^ I really hate the vocals by God Forbid...oh also I only have their last cd, so if they were better before then maybe I need to have another look, but there last album was BORING with a capital everything.
This band is good...and its on Itunes woot!This Message Edited On 02.04.08
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Pebster,
Check out Gone Forever and Determination. Those were their best metalcore efforts. Their last album was more in the vein of just being metal. Glad you like this album. The album is getting better with each listen.
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Nice, i might like this, will check soon
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