Customer Reviews

Diamond for Disease

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ARSIS - A Diamond for Disease
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This 3 song EP scored 6th on my Best of 2005 list... The only reason it didn't finish higher was the fact that it was only 3 Tracks.
This album begins with the Title Track, which may be the best epic melodic death song ever written. 13 minutes of blistering Melodic Metal Madness. Everything about this song amazing: the guitar work is absolutely ridiculous. Listen to Left /Right speaker play at the 5:00 min. mark, or the Solo at 7:10! Honestly this man is a genius. The Bass work is thunderous and gives the perfect back drop to the song carrying the guitars throughout the song. Vocals are actually really good... Almost has a Dark Tranquility growl to him, Dark, Angry, yet understandable. You'll be singing along with the Chorus in no time: "Let's make a deal... A Diamond for Disease..." And who can forget the drumming? This man understands how to shift gears and always seems to have the most appropriate beat for the music. Whether it be his thick layering of Double kickers through the solo, (Mentioned above) or the blast beats at the intro. This guy can do no wrong.
Oh yeah did I mention there are 2 other songs... A great Alice Cooper cover: "Roses on White Lace" and what I believe is a remake of one of their older tracks "The Promise of Never"
All I can say is their debut: "A Celebration of Guilt" was absolutely an amazing CD. (4.5 Stars) If "A Diamond for Disease" is any direction that the band is heading there is a good change At the Gates: Slaughter of the Soul, will be stripped of its best Melo-Death Album title.
BUY THIS ALBUM NOW!!! If you at all like Melodic Death Metal you owe it to yourself to own this.
-5 Stars.
[Interesting fact Arsis is recorded by 2 guys from West Virginia Yep you heard me right... West Virginia...
- Drums: Michael Van Dyne and + Guitars, Bass and Vocals: James Malone. They do have a live band for shows... whether the other members will appear on their next album is still unknown.]


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2005 has been an odd year for melodic death metal. There have been some solid releases such as Dark Tranquillity's `Character', Scar Symmetry's `Eden Fire', Detonation's `Portals to Uphobia' and Darkane's `Layers of Lies' which were not great but were definitely enjoyable. Also bands like Scar Symmetry managed to make the super melodic style that has been popular lately actually listenable. But seeing as how all my favorite melodeath bands (Soilwork, At The Gates, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity) were all either broken up or releasing material weaker than their earlier work I was not really expecting much shocking.

Thus enters Arsis's new thirteen minute song, "A Diamond for Disease". I was somewhat impressed by their first album `A Celebration of Guilt', the talent was there if it somewhat lacked variety and consistency in song quality. I was also somewhat skeptical about James Malone's ability to write a thirteen minute song because songwriting was basically the one weakness of their debut. But this fear was unfounded, as "A Diamond for Disease" never once became even close to being boring. The song just flies through in a flurry of awesome drum beats, manic screams and godly guitar playing.

To put it in simple words, James Malone is THE best guitarist in melodic death metal, quite possibly in metal altogether (Nevermore, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Meshuggah, Steve Vai and Arsis would be pretty hard to compare to each other though since their styles are totally different.). James can play anything that makes good melodeath. Thrashy riffs that are not At the Gates copying, twin leads (see 7:10 in the song for a particularly awesome example of this), guitar harmonies, and something that every metal fan loves - awesome guitar solos. He even gets more than three different guitar parts going in places and doesn't let it fall into a shambled mess, something that not many composers can pull off. He has a great death metal snarl that reminds me of Hypocrisy's Peter Tagtgren's, though a little higher pitched and catchier: it almost compels you to sing "Ohhh! Let's make a deal! A diamond for disease!" along with him.

To wrap this EP up you also get a pretty funny Alice Cooper cover and an old demo that was re-recorded, both good songs in their own right, though A Diamond for Disease is worth the price of an entire album. This is not only a return to the days when melodic death metal bands focused on death metal (tones of blast beats and bass kick are a mark of this) instead of overdosing on catchy melodies but it also blows practically any other melodic death metal release ever out of the water.

PS. This was recorded for Ballet Deviare, which I'm pretty convinced must be the coolest ballet ever.

Richmond Virginia's metal duo Arsis made quite a name for itself with its debut album, A Celebration of Guilt. A death metal album with melody rather than a melodic death metal album, A Celebration of Guilt contained furious riffing and soloing, and possessed drumming, all within the framework of catchy songs. A Diamond for Disease may only contain one new song, but the added element apparent on this song should give metal fans the cause to rejoice: top notch songwriting.

Any fan of A Celebration of Guilt must have wondered how Arsis planned on pulling off a 13 minute title track epic, when one weaker element of the first album was its lack of cohesive and focused songwriting (even if the songs do contain plenty of remarkable riffs/movements). Well, be not afraid. This opus written for a ballet just may be a glimpse into the career of a melodic death metal band the likes we have never heard.

At times, the track does show the influence of vintage In Flames and Dark Tranquility, and at others, the complex runs and brutality lean toward the technical death metal sound of labelmates Necrophagist. Regardless of the style, Arsis presents it all with a balls to the wall, unforgiving intensity. You will not find even a 15 second gap where the music and its force let up.

Then enter two more shows well worth the price of admission. First up, an Alice Cooper cover. Just play this track for a ten year old, ignorant of who Alice Cooper is, and you will have him/her convinced that the shock-rock legend is a brutal death metal band. Thank goodness for bands who recognize that the best covers are those assimilated to suit the cover band's style. Thumbs up from a fan who is most always unimpressed with cover songs.

The last track is a wax and polish demo. I would not put this up with the best tracks on A Celebration of Guilt, but it is a quality track nontheless. Inhuman speed on this one.

I am going to give Arsis the benefit of the doubt here and give them a full five stars for the five star music, even though I was tempted to score lower simply for having to pay full CD price for a 20 minute extended single. Whatever. What it all boils down to is that this album has set the bar extraordinarily high for the next Arsis full length. Best part is, A Diamond for Disease indicates they'll have no problem exceeding expectations.

im not really a fan of singles but this, for sure, got my attention when i listened to it the first time. if you heard and liked arsis at all you should definitely own this in some format.

Ladies and gentlemen, and all fans of melodic metal, be prepared to be blown away at what Virginia's 2 man project has to offer you. While it is only an EP with three tracks, this is way more than worth your time.

The title track, "A Diamond For Disease" is what makes this EP. Clocking in at almost 13 minutes, there is a lot to offer, whether it would be excellent solos or just a bunch of melody conceived through a technical structure. Words cannot simply describe how excellent this song is. "Roses on White Lace" follows next, which is an Alice Cooper cover track, and Arsis does it better. Closing this EP is "The Promise of Never", which will definitely please the listener of this band's works.

Bottom line: you need this. It's short but sweet. This is proof that metal is always crafting up newer ideas and concepts, and Arsis is a band that does that splendidly.

This band rips...why couldn't this be a full length. This material is just as good as their debut cd. They even made an Alice Cooper song sound heavy and cool. I'm ready for more Arsis!!!!

at first I was let down by the compromising sounds and the excessive wanking around but then the true metal burst forth from the speakers and blew my neighbor's radio into the toilet. another good thrash album.