Uncanny
Splenium For Nyktophobia


4.5
superb


Release Date: 1994 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Brutal and melodic Swedish old-school death metal? Yes please.

Old-school death metal is such a fantastic genre of music. So many bands and albums have come out of this genre that are considered absolute gems in the metal community and there is a lot less garbage you have to sift through to find these said gems. Albums such as None So Vile, Effigy of the Forgotten, and Symbolic, just to name a few, are all more of the well known classics in the old-school death metal genre. However this particular Swedish band, Uncanny, and their first and only full-length album, Splenium for Nyktophobia, don't seem to be mentioned all that much when mentioning some of the classic death metal albums of the 90's and I really don't see why that is. Uncanny is a band that meshes brutality and melody so well that it should be only fair that this album should be mentioned among the greatest in the death metal genre.

Like I pointed out, Uncanny has an uncanny ability (no pun intended) to blend together both melodic and brutally technical guitar riffs. Take for example the fourth track, Timeless. It's a purely instrumental track that perfectly demonstrates the band's ability to intertwine both the the technicality of the riffs and some really catchy leads. That's one thing that you will realize about the entire album, it's chock full of some of the catchiest riffs you will hear on a death metal album from this era. Now with that being said, this band isn't to be compared with some of the melodic death metal bands, such as Dark Tranquillity or In Flames, that were also coming out of Sweden at this time. Uncanny leaned a lot more towards the "death metal" side in the term "melodic death metal." While they had catchy leads, that's not to say that they didn't have the vicious, buzzsaw guitar tone as well. Something that fans of this genre should be all too familiar with. That is certainly the thing that sets this apart from other so-called melodic death metal albums. The drumming kinda takes a back seat in the production, with the guitars being higher in the mix, but you can still recognize that the drums are well-executed as well. Lots of blast beats of course as well as and technical fills. Again, something that is to be expected with this kind of music. The drums and guitars compliment each other very well on this album.

The production on this album is absolutely perfect. When I say perfect I don't mean that it's crystal clear, like something you would hear from some of the bands nowadays. Remember, this album was made in 1994 and the band definitely didn't have a big enough budget for crystal clear recording conditions. The sound of the album is gritty, but everything can still be heard. Like I mentioned before, the guitars are a little higher up in the mix than the bass and the drums, but it's nothing that would detract the album from being anything less than great. And to be honest, having the guitars higher in the mix doesn't do anything but help this album considering that the main focus of the album is on the quality of the riffs.

Really all there is to say about this album is that it is an underrated gem in the world of old-school death metal. It's all well and good that people hail None So Vile or Symbolic as the best death metal albums ever made because quite frankly, they are some of the best. But what people need to realize is that the death metal genre goes far beyond only the well-known bands and Uncanny is a perfect example of that. Splenium for Nyktophobia is the only full-length album that this band has ever recorded and that could very well be the reason why they aren't more well known. Either way, this album is fantastic and underapprecated and needs to be heard by metal fans everywhere, so do yourself a favor and give this album a chance. You're not going to regret it.



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user ratings (75)
4
excellent

Comments:Add a Comment 
Hawks
April 18th 2011


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Been pretty obsessed with this, and all old-school death metal, recently. People need to hear this.

Crysis
Emeritus
April 18th 2011


17640 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah this album is sick.

Hawks
April 18th 2011


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Hell yeah it is.

TheSpirit
Emeritus
April 18th 2011


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

nice stuff, this album is good

Hawks
April 18th 2011


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Thanks bro. Yeah I'm really loving this album and Fulfill the Curse by Hooded Menace. Been pretty obsessed with those two.

Hyperion1001
Emeritus
April 18th 2011


27095 Comments


Been listening to pretty much only electronica and OSDM for the past month.

Album rules.

Hawks
April 18th 2011


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

OSDM has been pretty much taking over my life for the past 2 or so weeks. Just can't stop listening to it.

AngelofDeath
Emeritus
April 18th 2011


16306 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

This is probably in my top five death metal albums. It's so freaking good. Maybe more people will pick this up now.

Hawks
April 18th 2011


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

That was what I was hoping for haha. Figured since I've been playing it so much that I would give it a review, since it needed one for sure. Hopefully more people will recognize it.

Crysis
Emeritus
April 18th 2011


17640 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

It's like a 4/5. Hate the production on the bass drum.

Hawks
April 18th 2011


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

The only thing I noticed about the production is that the guitars are higher in the mix, like I mentioned. Not a problem though. That's just nitpicking.

Athom
Emeritus
April 18th 2011


17244 Comments


nice to see some older stuff get reviews.

Crysis
Emeritus
April 18th 2011


17640 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

With death metal I love it when the drums and bass guitar are really high alongside the guitars, and that the bass drum actually has some force and doesn't sound like *tap*tap*tap*tap*tap*tap*tap*tap*tap*tap*tap*tap* all the time.



Oh and:



Albums such as None So Vile, Effigy of the Forgotten, and Symbolic, just to name a few, are all more of the well known classics in the old-school death metal genre




Probably could have picked better choices I think.

Hawks
April 18th 2011


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I can see what you mean about that. The drums are just a little bit buried underneath the guitars. Not to the extent where it's annoying, but I can definitely see where you're coming from.

Hyperion1001
Emeritus
April 18th 2011


27095 Comments


Hate the production on the bass drum.


I thought that too the first time i heard it, but it got sort of drowned out by how awesome everything else was.

Hawks
April 18th 2011


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Where are those ratings at guys?

Hyperion1001
Emeritus
April 18th 2011


27095 Comments


It's more cool to like it and not rate it.

Hawks
April 18th 2011


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Well...whatever floats your boat lol.

Hyperion1001
Emeritus
April 18th 2011


27095 Comments


Haha i'm just kidding it's probably a 4 but i like to let it sit a while before i rate it.

Hawks
April 18th 2011


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah I understand. Most people are like that. With me, I usually rate things initially and then change it down the line if I need to. Usually my first instinct is what I stick with though.



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