Eucharist
A Velvet Creation


4.0
excellent

Review

by CaptainDooRight USER (93 Reviews)
March 13th, 2012 | 70 replies


Release Date: 1993 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Swedish melodic OSDM containing near perfect compositional attributes.

It’s very rare to come across good melodic death metal due to the numerous amounts of bands rehashing old ideas, and using the gift of melody in a really cheesy, unprofessional way. In fact, the main reason melodic death metal gets such a bad rep nowadays is because many bands try to gain “audience appeal” by flashing catchy riffs in your face and thus forgetting good music isn’t all about flash; but ultimately, good songs arise from the ability of an artist to compose all of the elements gracefully. “A Velvet Creation” is a perfect example of melodic death metal used in a very effective way, almost always favoring emotion over flash. Tracks like “March of Insurrection” and “Floating” offer a grand variety of tasteful riffs that blend well into the overall feel and atmosphere of AVC. The interlinear melodies play off each other, always giving a forward motion to the album even during repeated phrases.

One should “not” approach AVC as the type of OSDM album that focuses entirely on heaviness. Amongst many attributes, OSDM is known for both heaviness and groove. AVC favors more grooving melodies than atmospheric density, although thickness is almost always present with blazing fast tremolos, double bass kicks, and blast beats. Tracks like “Into the Cosmic Sphere” and “My Bleeding Tears” offer a well balance of "weight" and melodic characteristics but multi noted tremolos seem to always take the lead, which in this case is a very good thing.

The album flow of AVC is what I believe ultimately makes Eucharist’ first LP release so successful. The acoustic intro is very reminiscent of early In Flames works, Bach, and the popular song “A Spanish Caravan”. Like most elements of AVC, the acoustic intro doesn’t over stay its welcome as it blends perfectly into upfront, straightforward, melodic death metal. The ability of guitarist Marcus Johnsson and bassist Martin Karlsson to keep the listeners attention throughout AVC is nothing short of amazing. The placement of every single moment is very creative. The transition of “March of Insurrection” to “My Bleeding Tears” bass line is reminiscent of each other but carries each other’s high points to newer emotional levels.

The lyrical factor is very enjoyable and decipherable. When vocalist Johnsson screams “I speak only for myself, and I blame nobody else, For what I have done, I will always be left to carry my pain”, supported by groovy death-like riffs, the listener is graced by remembrances of Chuck Schuldiner from Death and Jeff Walker from Carcass. The lyrics are both sorrowful and beautiful, such as is the case of Floating’s “Everything looks cold, and the natural beauty surrounds this solemn province, but in my eyes, this blasphemous grace is falling apart”.

With very minor setbacks in the areas of the drum snare being too high in the production and occasional moments of odd song endings, AVC is one of the best melodic death metal offerings to ever exist; as well as being one of the best OSDM releases to come out of Sweden during the year of 1993. Eucharist has shown, as well as setting a solid marker for what “good” melodic death metal is capable of. This album is highly recommended for fans of OSDM, melodic death metal, and those who are looking for an introduction into accessible [in compositional terms] death metal.



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user ratings (78)
3.7
great

Comments:Add a Comment 
Voivod
Staff Reviewer
March 13th 2012


10937 Comments


Good review, pos.

I know this band only by name, but from your review, I should check them out, I guess.

pizzamachine
March 13th 2012


27668 Comments


dat double bass

seedofnothing
March 13th 2012


3422 Comments


Awesome album and very good review.

Crysis
Emeritus
March 13th 2012


17640 Comments


Haven't listened to this band in years but they are good.

Shuyin
March 14th 2012


14976 Comments


'such a bad rap nowadays'

think you meant bad rep, besides that, awsome review

fuckin pos'd m/

TheSpirit
Emeritus
March 14th 2012


30304 Comments


Pretty good review. Some of it reads a bit weird and I think you could expand on a few things a bit better but overall no real complaints. Although you definitely overuse the word "heaviness" in the second para.

Posd

seedofnothing
March 14th 2012


3422 Comments


I love the arrangements in this album.

ffs
March 14th 2012


6327 Comments


mirrorworlds is decent, haven't heard this

Hyperion1001
Emeritus
April 16th 2013


27095 Comments


the drums on this album sound so fucking bad but its so good i dont even care

Digging: Vladislav Delay - Kuopio

DrHouseSchuldiner
April 20th 2013


5642 Comments


pos'd gonna check

Keyblade
August 11th 2013


30678 Comments


So good ugh

Keyblade
August 12th 2013


30678 Comments


bump 4 trvth

Madbutcher3
June 22nd 2016


3155 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

the drums sound bad on most of it cus its a drum machine



the bonus tracks have real drums as far as i can tell though and Wounded And Alone rips



also bump lol cus this album is good

AnimalsAsSummit
November 12th 2017


6180 Comments


the drums sound absolutely wonderous. the production on this is a world of its own.

Hawks
August 15th 2018


93615 Comments


Why does nobody talk about this? It’s amazing.

Digging: Black Curse - Burning in Celestial Poison

AnimalsAsSummit
August 15th 2018


6180 Comments


same reason they don't talk about most of the amazing stuff on here, seems like average music is what's primarily celebrated and popularized.... things that sit nicely in a happy medium and are easy to figure out, easily definable. just look at the site charts.

Hawks
August 16th 2018


93615 Comments


Seriously smh. People need to jam this hard.

Source
August 16th 2018


19917 Comments


I seem to remember liking this

Hawks
August 16th 2018


93615 Comments


Niiiiiice. m/

Casavir
October 2nd 2018


5652 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Will listen to this a bit more later but on my first listen in years, this was more impressive than I remember. First two tracks are alright but the stuff after is much more interesting.



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