Pestilence
Doctrine


1.0
awful

Review

by CK USER (6 Reviews)
December 17th, 2012 | 53 replies


Release Date: 2011 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Nobody deserves this

I enjoy death metal for many reasons. I, like many others on this planet, enjoy excavating through the many layers of different unique instrumental structures, inspired guitar solos, captivating riffs, hidden melodies, and vocals resembling those of a monster one could find residing in the deepest levels of Hell. Whether the music is to be taken seriously or viewed as a humorous musical outing (I see no reason to not have a little fun while my ears explore their pleasures), I have the ability to find amusement almost anywhere in the scene. Still, everyone has their boundaries concerning what they will and won't listen to, and let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, after Pestilence have shat on a silver platter, disguised it as sparkling chocolate icecream and served it to my ears, I think it's safe to say that those boundaries I speak of have been adequately shattered and crossed. I don't ever enjoy when the aforementioned elements of death metal are taken advantage of in a way that causes the "music" to result in an atrocious pile of garbage. As an example of what I am speaking of, let us take a look at one of 2011's worst bottom-of-the-barrel records: Doctrine.

Pestilence, once one of several musical gurus in the genre, have started transforming from a sufficiently inspired and destructive unit to a rather generic example of a modern death metal act attempting to sound old school. The transformation, neither expected nor unexpected, began with the release of the band's 2009 reunion album, Resurrection Macabre, where the group looked to their past for ideas while also heeding to the new 21st century death metal audience. The outcome, though sounding a bit clichéd and ever more slightly unoriginal than the band's potential should have allowed for, is a fairly decent addition to the death metal catalogue as of late. Doctrine, Pestilence's 2011 follow-up, is a joke from start to finish. Everything that makes a death metal album what it is is sure to be found here; HOWEVER, everything expected to make a death metal album worth listening to in any way, shape, or form (originality, inspiration, excitement, etc.) are completely exempt from Doctrine. Instead, the band builds off of Resurrection Macabre's cons and manages to pick up numerous others along the way. The guitars offer nothing but slower-paced riffs that end up resulting in dry attempts to sound colossal and sophisticated. These low-tempo riffs and down-tuned chugs remain constant throughout the whole album, so once one has listened to the second track (the first doing absolutely nothing other than adding to the album’s toolish atmosphere), they will know exactly what lies ahead (hey, there's a pro: the album is consistent!). And if the guitars weren't awful enough to deal with, making tremendous contributions to the pile of elephant-sized excrement that is Doctrine's instrumentals is Patrick Mameli's vocal performance, an utterly horrendous vocal performance that stands beyond a point one could consider laughable. Comparable to those of someone getting shot in the ass, Mameli's weak voice and silly high-pitched cries do nothing but destroy whatever hope this album had to begin with.

There is some obvious experimentation going on on Doctrine, though it’s a well-known fact that some experiments are destined for complete and utter failure. I mean, it's completely understandable if Doctrine was a dream or a vision of sorts for members of Pestilence to fulfill: be courageous and do what you want to hear, not what the audience wants to hear, right? Well, this was most certainly an instance where it should have remained a dream or a vision, something that many years later the band could say "Hey, wouldn't it have been awesome if we tried this way back when?" (hah). And who knows? Maybe Pestilence had run into a dry spell with their creativity during the writing process for Doctrine. I guess we'll have to wait and see for certain come 2013 whether or not they decide to rise from the ashes and make a tremendous recovery with Obsideo or give us Reunion III: Revenge of the Shit.



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user ratings (157)
2.2
poor

Comments:Add a Comment 
CK
December 17th 2012


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

I'm a little scared, this being only my second review and all, and also the fact that it is a highly negative review for an only somewhat panned album. So please, give me some advice if you have any. If not, enjoy!

CK
December 17th 2012


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

I mean, I can TOLERATE Sinister, but not enough that it changes my view on the album, and most certainly not enough that I want to hear it 10 times in a row

CK
December 17th 2012


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

Gotta ask Pat Mameli, he's the master

Geadom
December 17th 2012


3765 Comments


Whoa, is this REALLY that bad? I liked Spheres and TotA, but never heard anything else from this band.

CK
December 17th 2012


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

Listen and find out

TheSpirit
Emeritus
December 17th 2012


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5 | Sound Off

No Drunen brah, that's how

evilford
December 17th 2012


66973 Comments


"Whoa, is this REALLY that bad? I liked Spheres and TotA, but never heard anything else from this band"

whoa! go listen to Consvming Impvlse right now!!

Geadom
December 17th 2012


3765 Comments


I listened to it, didnt like it.
Malleus was a tad better, for sure.

I meant to say "I never liked anything else from this band", sorry : S

evilford
December 17th 2012


66973 Comments


didn't like consvming impvlseupnopgoaimp0289m4tp9q380tjpqtj8pwaefi90jqp3jipqogjiqpoweigmq;werog

CK
December 17th 2012


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

Yeah, Consuming Impulse is by far the best album these guys have put out, followed either by Malleus or Testimony

evilford
December 17th 2012


66973 Comments


summary rules btw

CK
December 17th 2012


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

Haha, thanks. It's true

KILL
December 18th 2012


81580 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

so bad

Sepulphagist
January 16th 2013


2 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Dude, why so much hate? This album is amazing. Its CRUSHINGLY heavy. Its unique. The vocals are hilarious. The fretless bass playing is amazing. The Riffs CRUNCH. This is oldschool death metal... only recorded better.

CK
January 16th 2013


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

Just not my thing. I personally find it repetitive, unoriginal, silly, and annoying.

KILL
March 30th 2013


81580 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

sup hawks

Spag
March 30th 2013


2907 Comments


lol

pissbore
April 23rd 2013


12778 Comments


hmm to listen to this or not to listen to this



CK
April 23rd 2013


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

You shouldn't because sucks but you should because lol

DrHouseSchuldiner
April 23rd 2013


5642 Comments


Its sweet



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