Customer Reviews

Amen

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Amen. The band aren't quite unknown, but still aren't "known". They deserve to be known alot more widely, and in alot of ways they do deserve respect for giving it their all on all 3 of their great albums. They never get boring, and their 3 albums are all full of a certain energy. A hate-filled one at that. Casey Chaos's vocals are perfect for this kind of music. Their lyrics are confronting, and somewhat confusing at times, and they really keep the level of tension apparent in and out of every song on this album especially.

From the opening song, the pumped up, headbanging "Coma America"..which is more of an introduction to the mayhem that will inevitably ensue, than a proper 'song'..to the final song on this CD, the bonus track "Black God"..This CD will not leave your CD Player for a long, long time. This album is definitely going to blow you away if you're even the slightest bit into Punk/Metal.

Amen formed in 1994, but it took another 5 years to get this album released and to get signed to Roadrunner Records. The line-up on this album, and on their second album "We Have Come For Your Parents" is, Casey Chaos (Vocals), Paul Fig (Guitars), Shannon Larkin (Drummer..once in the band Ugly Kid Joe), and the two ex-Snot members..Sonny Mayo (Guitars) and John "Tumor" Fahnestock (Bass).

The way Casey Chaos is onstage shows you how deep he cares, really, for this band and this music. He gives 100% onstage, pure and simple. He's broken bones and been admitted to hospital countless times after concerts. And although they do live in or around Beverly Hills, CA, and sing about an American Government covering up things, and about America as a country going to hell..that's not to say it's all a show. Alot of people would look at them living in Beverly Hills and say "What's their problem? Aren't they rich?" or something, and yet..I've read they're pretty broke in alot of ways. Their latest album "Death Before Musick" nearly wasn't made, they've basically changed their whole line-up (Casey Chaos is pretty much the only remaining member nowadays..), and since then i've read rumours of the band breaking up (Which aren't true..) because of money-related issues. Amen are for real in their hatred of rich people, Hollywood and the American Government, and they put their all into every single Live show they play.

I honestly can't even begin to say which songs are the best or anything, since i personally enjoy them all the same. Every single song grabs your attention, and has it's own angry, disturbing, atmosphere and personality. It's very hard to choose favourites. When i listen to this album, i have to listen to the full CD. I just can't skip a song.

This has 18 tracks in full, with "Whores of Hollywood", "Lovers and Killers", "Life Crime" and the fantastic "Black God", as bonus tracks. "Whores of Hollywood" and "Life Crime" are the fastest of the 4 songs, and are great Punk/Metal songs. The "Life Crime" chorus being a real highlight. "Lovers and Killers" goes for about 3 minutes, and isn't as fast as "Whores of Hollywood" or "Life Crime", but is a little more riff-ier. Then "Black God". ..To me, the best of the 4 bonus tracks. A pretty slow song, compared to other Amen songs, yet it has a sort of feel to it. A certain atmosphere that is very dark, very brooding, and a riff..once it hits the chorus..that will totally be stuck in your head for days and days. It's definitely the perfect ending for an excellent debut.

To fans of Punk/Metal. You seriously need Amen in your collection. And for fans of Metal in general, if you haven't heard of Amen, check this out..you will never regret it. Amen are a band for fans of any genre of Metal. You just have to be open-minded. I'm actually not that 'into' Punk, but Amen just has something about them..a very dark, but still energetic, hatred..that when you listen to them you just want to scream with them. This is music to get pumped up to.

5/5 is an understatement.