Beast

Vader | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metal Blade
• ASIN: B0002W4T8K
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,077 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Death Metal ARTIST BIO: There are very few bands that have managed to weave a web of mystery around them. Very few have survived and keep going strong until today. When faced with the question, 'which' people tend to mention American death-mongers like MORBID ANGEL, DEICIDE or CANNIBAL CORPSE ...however, for a few years now many have named VADER - perhaps the only band from Europe, which has sustained its status for a long number of years. Theirs is the cult of musical brutality and the urge to succeed. Few may remember that VADER were the first band ever from behind "the Iron Curtain" to sign to a Western label while their 1990 demo "Morbid Reich" is still considered to be the best selling demo tape in the history of death metal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Treading water, September 22, 2004

By 

Dave (Pa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beast (Audio CD)

Vader are a great band, don't get me wrong. It just seems like lately they have been treading water with regard to their songwriting and not really progressing. On this effort, the songs all have great beats and there are some memorable riffs here and there, but the last few albums have sounded as though the band keep doing variations on the same main rhythm and sticking to safe territory. Purists will like this as it means more of a time tested formula that obviously works well for Vader. The 5th track on the disc is a kind of an exception. The band experiment with a new sort of vocal style and song structure and is definitely a highlight of the disc. Also, the last track opens with a clean guitar intro done in such a way I haven't heard Vader use before. Other than that, It's another pummeling offering of backbeats and blasts from one of Poland's premier death metal acts. Enjoy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Toothless beast, August 1, 2005

By 

Bacteria13 (North Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beast (Audio CD)

To say I was looking forward to this CD would be an understatement. Poland's Vader are probably my favorite Metal band hitting the boards today. 2002's 'Revelations' album is a classic of its kind, on par with Slayer's 'Reign in Blood in my opinion, and worthy of any metal fan's respect, no matter which avenue you venture down. However, Vader have found them in a conundrum that if something drastic doesn't happen they could very easily wear themselves thin.

Remember back in 1986 when Slayer released 'Reign in Blood' and people freaked out - they rightly-so went loopy over this record? Well, RIB was such a ferocious thrash metal landmark that instead of trying to carbon copy it they went in the opposite direction, recording the slower, doomier-dare-I-say-it melodic 'South of Heaven' instead, winning them even more fans who snubbed their noses at the 'noisy' RIB. After the release of 'Revelations' Vader were in the same boat, and though they recorded the competent 'Blood' EP I was expecting this talented foursome to pull something, well, different, out of their hats than this.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great metal album, a perfect combination of Slayer-esque thrash meets 'Schizophrenia'-era Sepultura death metal, but it could have very well been recorded during the 'Revelations' sessions. Album opener 'Out of the Deep' could very well be 'Epitaph', the opener of their 2002 classic. In fact, any song featured on 'The Beast', no matter how well played or brutal or ferocious, 'Firebringer', 'I Shall Prevail', 'The Zone', sounds pretty much like, well, Vader. And while this is certainly no bad thing - 90% of bands in the scene today wish they were this good - I would have likened to see a little risk or bravado thrown into the mix.

As it stands Vader is a much loved and respected death metal band, but, going by 'The Beast', if they remain stagnant they may get left behind.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An album that delivers just what its title promises, October 25, 2006

By 

A. Stutheit "Teyad" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beast (Audio CD)

Vader aren't one of Poland's finest exports only because of their talent and powerful song execution, but also because they offer a small breath of fresh air to the scene. They don't write their songs around over-the-top subject matter, unintelligible vocal parts, and a few good riffs; they compose whole, thoroughly planned out songs.

Vader's seventh album (not counting EP's and live discs, mind you), "The Beast," IS a friggin' beast. It's a well-produced, superbly-played effort, and a brutal, fiery, careening, relentless ride, making it on par with their best material. Even the addition of some new blood--drummer Daray (formerly of the band Vesania) replaced longtime skinsman Doc--didn't slow this band down at all. In fact, Doc does an excellent job filling in, because there is some truly awesome drumming to be heard here. He, together with the guitarists (Peter Wiwczarek and Mauser Stefanowicz, who unleash blistering, streamlined chainsaw leads and solos), make this record the audio equivalent of a fleet of rocket-propelled bulldozers, which conquer and race past everything in sight while still managing to pull off some nifty hooks in the process. The band members unrepentantly blast and rip through almost every song on "The Beast" (almost every second), thus producing stellar thrashing intensity, frenetic energy, and industrial strength songs.

The foreboding "Intro" is the sole song on here which is completely restrained, so take a breath before proceeding with the next track. Don't even bother standing in the way of tracks like "Out Of The Deep," "Firebringer," and "Insomnia," because their trade-off, smoke-inducing, buzzsaw guitar leads, wild solos, furiously fast and walloping blast beats, and barked vocals will effortlessly plow right over you. "I Shall Prevail" packs an equally-as-blinding speed, but it differs because its guitar solos are fairly slow, melodic, and technical. "Dark Transmission" is bolstered by hooky, rhythmic, circular leads and persistent, bottom heavy double bass thumps. "The Sea Came In At Last" is a big highlight, and a song you'll remember vividly long after it has stopped playing. It boasts a great slow-fast dynamic; the slow parts have gentle strumming and a grumbling bass line (as well as a few moments of near silence), while the fast parts blanket the listener with breakneck guitar work and busy, forceful, Meshuggah-esque drums. Next, "The Zone" and "Apopheniac" are two fairly abrasive, mid tempo cuts which are juiced with slower, grinding, churning riffs and fairly long, wailing solos. And finally, "Choices" is a potent, thunderously booming set closer (but it begins with melodic guitar strings).

It's true that Vader don't exactly hide the fact that they draw from the same well as Slayer for much of "The Beast," but they're still two completely different bands. Vader's songs are catchier, and they have a minimally-used vocalist vocals who draws influence squarely from death metal. There is absolutely nothing to dislike here; this is a thrilling, completely satisfying record. If you're any kind of metalhead or Vader fan, then you'll buy this C.D., bar none!