Hunter

A Life Once Lost | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 28, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ferret Records
• ASIN: B0009OUASY
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,031 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rehashed

2. Needleman

3. Vulture

4. Pain & Panic

5. Hunter

6. Grotesque

7. Salai

8. A Rush & Siege

9. I Give In

10. Ghosting

11. With Pitiless Blows

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun listen, solid grooves, heavy, June 28, 2005

By 

Concatenation (West Lin, OR ,United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunter (Audio CD)

These days I am increasingly becoming jaded with newer metal releases. They are all starting to run together for me, as metalcore takes over the metal world. As I Lay Dying, Darkest Hour, It Dies Today, The Agony Scene... are these all the same bands? I don't know anymore. Not that those bands don't have a few songs that I enjoy, its just that the scene is becoming saturated - much like the nu-metal scene did years ago (there was actually a time when nu-metal was exciting and new in the mid 90's).

Thankfully bands like LOSA and their fantastic Metal Blade debut are actually pushing the boundaries of creativity and fueling inspiration for metalheads like myself. Which brings us to another fine release in today's metal world - A Life Once Lost and their new record "Hunter".

This record surprised me in how much I'm enjoying it. Almost sounding like the filthy offspring of Meshuggah and Lamb of God, their beats, guitar crunch and vocal delivery have me bobbing my head whenever I'm playing it. This band has come a long way since their last record, and they have truly begun to carve out their own sound here. Guitar playing is top notch, with riffery heavy and cutting, with some pretty interesting leads that actually don't sound like In Flames! These guys also crank out some pretty competent solos amongst the chaos. Drumming is probably the star here (though I am admittedly biased toward drumming), with addictive double bass patterns that are the main source of the Lamb of God and Meshuggah comparisons - certainly not a bad thing.

Its not the be all or end all of metal records, but as a jaded metal fan who is always searching for the something new, something better (or a new Opeth record), this record has got me excited about a new metal release that I haven't felt much this year.

Recommended track - "Vulture", which is also their single. If you're not feeling that song, then this band probably won't do much for you. Give it a couple listens.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars for the album, June 29, 2006

By 

Michael (FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunter (Bonus Dvd) (Dlx) (Dig) (Audio CD)

Although the new artwork is cool, the digipak isn't really worth getting if you already own the regular cd. The cd is left as is, while you'd think the dvd is what makes it worth getting if you're expecting live videos. This is not the case however. It even boasts on the sticker on the front that these videos were filmed at Hellfest, and Sounds Of The Underground. So immediately you think, "live, right?" Not really. Although, this features the music videos for Rehashed and Vulture (both were shown on Headbanger's Ball), the other videos featured on here are no different from them. No live audio. It's all music videos, with audio like what you hear on the cd's. I don't feel completely cheated considering that these guys are one of my favorite metal bands, and the content of the dvd was still good, just not what I had expected it to be. I've bought loads of special editions, limited editions, whatever you want to call them, and they were all worth it.

So if you already own the cd and are thinking about getting this, think carefully. You've been warned.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Evolution, July 2, 2005

By 

The Iron Summit E-Zine "www.isrrecords.com" (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunter (Audio CD)

A Life Once Lost are the true definition of a band that has evolved over each album they have released. Open Your Mouth For The Speechless found them tirelessly searching for a musical identity, The Fourth Plague was much more of a tolerable listen, and A Great Artist brought forth their full experimentation in tech-metal ala the mighty Meshuggah but without the full creative scope to step out of the shadows. Enter Hunter.

The easiest way to describe A Life Once Lost at this point in their careers would be a quality mix of Meshuggah and Lamb Of God, certainly not bad comparisons to have. If you're tired of all the gothernburg riffing and crave something with intensity, this is for you. Hunter is chocked full of stop/start riffing, southern-tinged leads, and plunty of pummeling drum work. Rob Meadows vocals attack you like a rabid dog (think Randy Blythe but not quite as low pitched). What is perhaps nicest about this album is A Life Once Lost have taken the concept behind tech-metal and have become one of the very few bands that can actually write cohesive songs out of its format. Admittedly, towards the end of the album the songs start to feeling a little to similar and start to run into each other, but other than that theirs not much to complain about here. Highlight tracks include "Pain & Panic," "Vulture" and "Rehashed." For fans of Meshuggah, Lamb Of God, Into The Moat, and The Red Chord.