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/:: Artist :: God Dethroned ::\
:: Album :: The Judas Paradox ::
:: Year :: 2024 ::
:: __ _ _ __ ::
-:--\\-----------------------------------------------------------------//--:-
:: \ / ::
:: . Genre :: Death Metal Source :: CD . ::
:: Label :: Valhall Music R.date :: 2024-11-03 ::
_::__ Cat.nr. :: SCR051 S.date :: 2024-09-06 __::_
::// \\::
::/---------------------------------------------------------------------\::
:: ::
/: Encoder :: LAME 3.100 -V0 :\
..: Bitrate :: avg. 285kbps :..
. Quality :: 44.1 kHz/Joint Stereo .
. Size :: 93.41 MB .
. .
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
.\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////.
+/ -\------- | | ----\ tracklist /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: 1. The Judas Paradox 6:02 ::
:: 2. Rat Kingdom 3:39 ::
:: 3. The Hanged Man 4:02 ::
:: 4. Black Heart 0:50 ::
:: 5. Asmodeus 3:33 ::
:: 6. Kashmir Princess 4:48 ::
:: 7. Hubris Anorexia 3:37 ::
:: 8. The Eye of Providence 3:34 ::
:: 9. Hailing Death 5:28 ::
:: 10. Broken Bloodlines 3:23 ::
:: 11. War Machine 3:58 ::
:: ::
:: ::
:: ------- ::
.. >> 42:54 ..
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
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+/ -\------- | | ----\ release notes /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: ::
:: There are always names that many fans ask æwhy in the blazes ::
:: this band isnÆt as great as it deserves?Æ, because there are ::
:: acts whose contributions are far better than some that we can ::
:: call as æactive-in-retirementÆ (those that lives off their ::
:: past, and arenÆt offering something worthy of attention for ::
:: many years). In Death Metal, we can say that many pioneers that ::
:: are still active are far than their initial albums, but still ::
:: relying on their past (and of the fans fanatism). But one name ::
:: you can be sure thatÆs still as relevant as they were in the ::
:: past and deserves to sit as king on Death Metal throne: the ::
:: Dutch quartet GOD DETHRONED. And the bandÆs 12th album, ôThe ::
:: Judas Paradoxö, shows as theyÆre still evolving even after 33 ::
:: years of activity. ::
:: ::
:: The only change on the bandÆs lineup was the arrival of the ::
:: drummer Frank, and Henri (the mastermind of the quartet and the ::
:: only founding member left), Dave and Jeroen are together for ::
:: some years, what depicts on the songs the weight of their ::
:: influences. But as well, the bandÆs musical work shows some ::
:: different elements: itÆs still that traditional Blackened Death ::
:: Metal approach heard from their return on ôWorld Ablazeö ::
:: (2017), but anyone can hear some melodic improvements (as some ::
:: Black Metal melodic riffing heard on ôRat Kingdomö), and even ::
:: elements from Death/Black Metal in many parts, and some traces ::
:: from their own past. It depicts as the band seems to evolve ::
:: without leaving its own musical roots. Yes, itÆs not a sin to ::
:: say that ôThe Judas Paradoxö is a sequence of ôIlluminatiö ::
:: (2020), but with a different (and renewed) insight. Once more ::
:: Henri took the responsibility of dealing with the recordings ::
:: and mixing, and the mastering is a work of Tony Lindgren. The ::
:: final result is a sonority that links the band to its past ::
:: works in terms of instrumental tunes, but in an updated for. ::
:: Everything is sounding defined and understandable, but as ::
:: aggressive and nasty as always. ::
:: ::
:: Once again: the quartet is again using lyrics linked to ::
:: Satanism, anti-Christianity, blasphemy and more, and a fine ::
:: example that the band can deal with such themes with an ::
:: intelligent approach is saw on ôThe Judas Paradoxö, using the ::
:: figure point of view of Judas himself about his betrayal (maybe ::
:: itÆs an influence of books as Nikos KazantzakisÆ ôThe Last ::
:: Temptation of Christö). All the tracks are excellent, fine ::
:: pieces of Blackened Death Metal. ôThe Judas Paradoxö (used as ::
:: one of the Singles of the album) is a climatic and dense song ::
:: (unusual for an opening track), full of contrasts between ::
:: darkened ambiences created by the melodic sense of the guitars. ::
:: A bit faster and full of raw energy (but still melodic and ::
:: depicting some Black Metal touches) comes ôRat Kingdomö, and ::
:: what intense rhythmic work from bass guitar (strong and brutal ::
:: blast beats and fast double bass can be heard). In a more ::
:: traditional way into Death Metal comes ôThe Hanged Manö, with ::
:: screams and snarls contrasting with some grunts. ::
:: ::
:: ôBlack Heartö is a short intro used to create the right ::
:: ambience for ôAsmodeusö, another song based on morbid melodies ::
:: and fast tempos, with the right level of instrumental ::
:: technique. And ôKashmir Princessö brings some subjective traces ::
:: from Hard Rock in many melodies, with a massive and excellent ::
:: set of guitar leads and arrangements. A storm of fast tempos ::
:: opens ôHubris Anorexiaö, but soon the speed decreases to the ::
:: traditional levels of Death Metal (besides some fast double ::
:: bass parts can be heard), with bitter lead arrangements of the ::
:: guitars creates a darkened ambience (with some clean moments ::
:: based on clean instruments). ôThe Eye of Providenceö is ::
:: introduced by melodic dissonant guitar duets, and is a climatic ::
:: song filled with haunting and darkened contrasts on the ::
:: rhythms. ::
:: ::
:: ôHailing Deathö is another song that follows a traditional way ::
:: into Death Metal, but never denying the adornments that the ::
:: quartet gathered of its long experience (and what very good ::
:: snarls and grunts). And ôBroken Bloodlinesö is a violent Death ::
:: Metal attack built upon on some traditional frame for the ::
:: genre, but with many details of Blackened Death Metal and ::
:: Death/Black Metal (the melodic arrangements are amazing). ::
:: Closing the album comes ôWar Machineö, a song that follows the ::
:: same traditional Death Metal tendency of the previous one, with ::
:: bass guitar and drums using such brutal tempos that increases ::
:: the aggressiveness of the song (and what good sick lead guitars ::
:: can be heard, including the unusual use of cry-baby effect). ::
:: ::
:: ôThe Judas Paradoxö is another masterpiece of the band, an ::
:: album that is offering more than is asked or needed. Stop ::
:: listening to old and retired acts and give a chance to GOD ::
:: DETHRONED... ::
:: ::
:: . _ _ . ::
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