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Monstrosity: Spiritual apocalypse
21/01/11 || Daemonomania
Monstrosity are to American death metal what huge knockers are to hot women. That is – pretty damn great if not essential. I’ve poured out my churning lovejuice on these overlooked Floridians time and time again on this site and supplied countless copies of “Rise to power” to metalheads of all stripes in hopes ze magic would be universally apparent. See, Monstrosity utilizes melody for the purposes of evil. They make interesting songs with interesting song structures. They have a knack for writing riffs that get necks moving like a 50 car pileup. They always manage to recruit an above-average vocalist to serve their dark needs. They kick ass.
The ‘Stros do all of those things on 2007’s “Spiritual apocalypse” with an updated production to boot. Do I love it as much as “Rise to penis”? No, for some other issues I’ll mention later on and because the album takes a bit to get started. The opening title track doesn’t get my skirts in a twist. Next up is snoozer “Firestorm”. One wonders why they decided to make it the single – not that high on the excite-o-meter. But once you’re cockslapped by the blast/slow/blast/slow excellence of “Apostles of the endless night,” shit keeps coming like Peter North on a three week Viagra bender. Aside from the instrumental “Illumination”, every tune from 3 onward is complete fucken Gaytanic victory. The highlights are too numerous to mention.
Let’s talk personnel. To get it out of the way, every GD’er knows the Pogg is a chest karate chopper on par with Corky. He does a good job playing the bass though. Lee Harrison is the guiding factor behind the band, and while his drumwork is very precise I can’t help but feel it’s a bit more sterile this time around. Might be the production. Mr. English tears it up and certainly goes for more slow to mid-paced riffing than on “RtP”. I miss the frantic nature of the Norman/Molina tag team solos and thrashy riffs, but such is life. Mr. Hrubovcak (of ex-Rumpelstiltskin Grinder fame, along with about 8 other groups) has quite the set of pipes, and howls ‘n growls with the best of ‘em. It must be admitted that he has more range than Jason Avery. Objectivity FTW. There are various metal stars that chip in backup vocals and solos. Is anyone ever really impressed with celebrity guests who make minimal contributions? Didn’t think so.
Yep, I’ve said about all I’m going to say about the matter at hand. Great songs constructed in an expert fashion. Cool lyrics. A modern sheen to a time-tested method of execution – kind of like making a chainsaw out of samurai sword blades. For all of you God Dethroned, My Own Grave, fuck it…for all of you fans of death GODDAMN metal out there give “Spiritual 2PacAlypse” a shot. It will not deceive you with a push-up bra. It will reward you with bouncing oiled hooters. Just skip right to track 3 on your way to groping those funbags.
- Information
- Released: 2007
- Label: Conquest Music
- Website: www.monstrosity.us
- Band
- Mike Hrubovcak: vocals
- Mark English: guitars
- Mike Poggione: bass
- Lee Harrison: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Spiritual Apocalypse
- 02. Firestorm
- 03. Apostles of the Endless Night
- 04. Within Divisions of Darkness
- 05. The Inhuman Race
- 06. Remnants of Divination
- 07. Illumination
- 08. Sacred Oblivion
- 09. The Bloodline Horror
- 10. Triumph in Black
