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/:: Artist :: 1349 ::\
:: Album :: Massive Cauldron of Chaos ::
:: Year :: 2014 ::
:: __ _ _ __ ::
-:--\\-----------------------------------------------------------------//--:-
:: \ / ::
:: . Genre :: Black Metal Source :: CDDA . ::
:: Label :: Indie Recordings R.date :: 2014.09.27 ::
_::__ Cat.nr. :: INDIE118CDL Size :: 86,70 MB __::_
::// \\::
::/---------------------------------------------------------------------\::
:: ::
/: Encoder :: LAME 3.98.4 -V0 :\
..: Bitrate :: avg. 264kbps : .
. Quality :: 44,1kHz/Joint Stereo .
. .
Website :: http://www.legion1349.com/
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
.\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////.
+/ -\------- | | ----\ tracklist /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: 01. Cauldron 04:22 ::
:: 02. Slaves 04:53 ::
:: 03. Exorcism 05:36 ::
:: 04. Postmortem 04:35 ::
:: 05. Mengele's 05:59 ::
:: 06. Golem 01:39 ::
:: 07. Chained 04:52 ::
:: 08. Untitled 01:07 ::
:: 09. Godslayer 06:01 ::
:: 10. Tornado (Voivod cover) (bonus) 06:17 ::
:: ------- ::
.. >> 45:21 ..
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
.\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////.
+/ -\------- | | ----\ release notes /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: ::
:: This album exists in a few different versions, this is the ::
:: limited Indie Rec. version with 10 tracks, including an ::
:: untitled track, which I was unable to find a name for. ::
:: I don't know if it's available on other editions, as nobody ::
:: mentions a 10 track version. ::
:: ::
:: The US deluxe edition comes with a different bonus track. ::
:: ::
:: -- ::
:: ::
:: Since 1997, 1349 has evolved a lot. And I mean a lot. ::
:: They've changed so much that their musical career can only ::
:: be compared to driving down the freeway at 70 miles per hour ::
:: and hitting black ice. First, you accelerate along the on- ::
:: ramp (Liberation and Beyond the Apocalypse), until you ::
:: achieve top speed (Hellfire). When you come upon the ice, it ::
:: sends you into uncontrollable spins (Revelations of the ::
:: Black Flame) that you miraculously manage to steer free ::
:: from. From there only the occasional patch causes some ::
:: gentle fishtailing (Demonoir) as you speed down the road. ::
:: While there are fans of 1349's latest experimentations, ::
:: there's no denying the broadside Revelationsàhad on its die ::
:: hard fans (this writer being one of them). So how does the ::
:: road look ahead for 1349? Will they dive deeper into the ::
:: blackness and weirdness of their latest albums or will they ::
:: turn back to the chaotic frenzy of their days of yore? ::
:: ::
:: The answer is (of course) none of the above. Instead, 1349 ::
:: has chosen to take advice from the friendly trucker at the ::
:: roadside cafΘ. When you begin to fishtail, your only option ::
:: is to drive faster. At first glance, the album title and ::
:: artwork make it immediately apparent that 1349 intends to ::
:: push the envelope again. When you line up all their albums ::
:: of reds, oranges, yellows, and blacks for comparison with ::
:: the white of Massive Cauldron of Chaos, you get the sense ::
:: that Ravn and company are giving you the finger. More than ::
:: ever, this album suggests to all listeners that it is futile ::
:: to assume you know what 1349 will do next. And while Massive ::
:: Cauldron of Chaos is a stupid title, there really is no ::
:: better way to describe what lies in these eight tracks ::
:: (nine, if you get the Voivod cover). This is basically a ::
:: stew of ingredients of old and new, with a variety of their ::
:: favorite influences and blackened sub-genres mixed in for ::
:: spice. ::
:: ::
:: "Cauldron" opens the album with some classic 1349 aggression ::
:: and savagery; nothing new here, just solid 1349. After this ::
:: warmup, things really get interesting."Slaves" utilizes ::
:: everything from black-thrash to a midsection Bathory-like ::
:: interlude, to some Demonoir spoken word segments. Frost's ::
:: assault is devastating on the ears and Ravn spews forth his ::
:: classic raspiness (even though his vocals are layered here ::
:: with the same stupid effects as in Revelationsà). ::
:: ::
:: "Exorcism" expands on this formula with some modern ::
:: Darkthrone riffage, Watain-like atmosphere, and even some ::
:: soloing (a better solo can be found in"Mengele's"), while ::
:: the kickass "Postmortem" showcases Archaon shredding some ::
:: early Slayer and Toxic Holocaust thrash (checkout the badass ::
:: riff at 2:30). But the real standout tracks are saved for ::
:: the end of MCoC. Not only is the spine of "Chained" tapped ::
:: by a black 'n' roll gavel, but it also pleads guilty to riff ::
:: thievery from Satyricon's "Mother North." It also utilizes ::
:: some Enslaved-esque atmospheric textures and the bass lead ::
:: by Seidemann is stellar. Similarly, closing track ::
:: "Godslayer"is all about modern Enslaved (as well as a little ::
:: Volcano-era Satyricon thrown in for good measure). Ravn ::
:: belts out "gawwwwdslaaaayeeeerrr" with the kind of urgency ::
:: only Grutle could make convincing. Even though the song is a ::
:: little repetitive, it brings order to the Chaos before ::
:: signing off for good. ::
:: ::
:: Massive Cauldron of Chaos is definitely another transition ::
:: in the 1349 sound and will inevitably split the fanbase ::
:: again. However, MCoC is perhaps the most mature of the 1349 ::
:: discog. Not only is it a crisp 38 minutes, but it sports a ::
:: magnificent DR8 production. The dynamics open up the album ::
:: beautifully, allowing the chaos to be both warm and ::
:: accessible. The punishment that the bass and drums bring to ::
:: MCoC would be completely lost with a louder production. ::
:: ::
:: While initially shocking, this new direction seems obvious ::
:: when compared to hints laid in Demonoir tracks like "Psalm ::
:: 7:77" and "The Devil of the Desert." Unfortunately, a lot of ::
:: this has been done before and it lacks that originality and ::
:: impact of their earlier work. But if you're looking for some ::
:: of the old speed and chaos of early 1349 - with a few twists ::
:: - this album is for you. ::
:: ::
:: . _ _ . ::
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