Customer Reviews

Into the Pit

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Over the past years I've been re-introduced to many thrash bands I lost track of over the years. This can be attributed to my discovery of [...]. Scott Water's metal collection is like nothing I've seen before and when I found out he was the vocalist of Ultimatum I was stunned to say the least. I had known about Ultimatum for many years though only a few songs here and there and liked what I heard. Unfortunately, their albums became increasingly difficult to find until now. Retroactive has made their previous albums available and though I didn't like them as much as many other thrash bands I was familiar with, it was still good quality thrash. Now with the release of Into The Pit, Ultimatum went from good thrash band to great thrash band (up there with Touniquet, Deliverance, Testament, Overkill, Vengeance Rising, and more). This is how thrash should be. Thundering double bass drums, shredding guitar solos, and aggressive vocals abound and I don't think any thrash fan wouldn't like this album. In previous reviews the only complaint I ever heard was Scott's vocals. I never understood it, Scott's voice is very unique and fit the music real well (sort of a mix of Bobby Blitz and Steve Souza). This time his vocals should cause those nay sayers to put their foot in their mouth with the power and aggressiveness of his vocals this time around (now he sounds similar to Obituary's John Tardy while maintaining his unique voice).

One For All: Great Overkill-like opening that starts the album off in grand thrash fasion. 4/5

Exonerate: Keeps the aggressiveness going while maintaining good melody. 4/5

Death Wish: Another great thrash song (notice a pattern here). 4/5

Blood Covenant: Still nothing to complain about. The guitar solos are even better this time around (it's nice for thrash guitarists to slow down now and then) and the melody is more noticable here. 4.5/5

Heart Of Metal: One of the best songs on this album. Awesome double bass work right before the chorus with lyrics that makes this a metal anthem of the highest order (I rank this with Toxic Waltz which is one of my favorite thrash songs ever). 5/5

Wrathchild: Great cover of an Iron Maiden classic with guitar solos that run you over like an semi-truck. 4.5/5

Transgressor: Not as great as the three before it but still a very solid thrash song. 3.5/5

Blink: A re-recording of a song origionally found on Symphonic Extremeties. Quite better than the origional which is no easy task (it's superiority is probably due to the better production). 4.5/5

Blind Faith: Another great thrash piece with lyrics that put a broad smile on this Christian's face. Guitarist Robert Gutierrez has no idea how to do a bad guitar solo. 4.5/5

Into The Pit: Hands down the best track on the entire album. This instrumental ranks up there with Metallica's Orion. Gutierrez shows that he is more than a one-dimentional thrash guitarist (he should be up there with the greats based on this song alone-superb solo). 5/5

Game Over: Another great thrash piece and a good way to close an album that should rank up there with the biggest names in thrash...nay, metal. 4/5

I'm always worried when I get a new CD I've been looking forward to for so long. Was I right to be worried? Maybe sometimes, but not in this case! Three spins in the first afternoon/evening after arrival and some things are very clear to me. Let me explain:

Tight as a drum and hands down the best Ultimatum vocals yet - variation and range I've not heard before. I love Heart of Metal...it's a great re-do of an already great song. Did I say the band was tight?
Other highlights for me (among an overall consistent album) are Exonerate, Deathwish and Blind Faith. Great sounding songs with the right mix of heavy riffs, stylish solos and pounding rhythm. Into The Pit is a very catchy instrumental as well.
This is how I like my thrash....rompy, kind of just makes you want to whirl around and grow super long hair!
I don't like to give 5 stars (it seems too easy, the lazy way out) but I think it's unethical to give less than 5 when the work truly merits it. That's like the jerk sports writers who don't vote guys into the Hall Of Fame on the first try just because of some silly belief that no one deserves to be praised unanimously. That's foolish! If you like Thrash metal, you'll find a 5 star CD right here.

If you've wondered if there's any metal in the world untainted by the new metal or core trends, Ultimatum is here to answer. And the answer might make you get a migraine as you attempt to whirl you hair at 1,000 miles an hour. They fly the freak flag of metal high and seem darned proud to do it. Into the Pit brings Ultimatum up to levels that comparisons to Tourniquet, early Deliverance, even an Exodus or Testament would not make people blink. The production levels are stellar, with enough rawness to please the thrash purist yet letting each instrument shine. Machine gun riffing, uber fast drumming and a vocalist who sounds like he eats nails, (from the looks of him I think he might) all the hints of greatness on past albums come together to form one awesome package. The songs are strong,all of them, tackling issues and no holds are barred lyrically, letting you know they stand for truth and the love of God. How I wish radio would find these guys and have the guts to put this into rotation. Real metal that needs to be heard. Anyone into heavy music owes it to themselves to check this out. Just have the aspirin handy.

First off, I would like to say the production is the best so far. Scott's vocals have never sounded better. I like the deeper end than some of the higher vocals he's employed in past albums. The riffs are terrific and memorable and the heaviest I have heard from these guys. The drums are also better than on the past albums, even though they used two drummers. I think I like the new guy a bit better. I was a bit let down by the drum sound of of the Mechanics album. The solos are great also. I listened to the album in my head phones and it was cool to pick up on the subtleties of the solos. The Iron Maiden cover is fine, but nothing spectacular. It has the Ultimatum stamp on it, and I guess covering Maiden isn't the easiest task when trying to please their fans. I think Ultimatum should make it a tradition of putting a classic cover song on each new album. Now the title instrumental track reminded me a bit of the early Metallica instrumentals, at the the beginning part at least. I sort of enjoyed the Mutamitlu instrumental a tad bit more from the last full-length. Also, since I was familiar with some of the songs from the E.P., it was great to hear them at full throttle. What else can I say? I got the Overkill album a day after this, and I prefer listening to this more than the Overkill. If that isn't a compliment, I don't know what it.

I had almost given up hope for Christian Metal in 2007.

Not one new album jumped out and said "I will melt your face".

That changed when I heard Ultimatum's Into the Pit. Classic thrash in the vein of Testament and Exodus, with the classic growl that makes thrash so great(I swear Scott Waters is channeling Roger Martinez from Vengeance Rising!)

The guitars are heavy and crunchy and the production is super excellent top notch. Everything is crisp and clean and the sounds just jump out at you. The musicianship is suberb! The song Heart of Metal should absolutely be on Guitar Hero 4!

Then there are the lyrics. Very open and honest about their faith in Jesus Christ, Ultimatum writes some songs that make you think. I love songs that are intelligent and challenging and that is what Ultimatum serves up.

If you are a fan of Overkill, Testament, Anthrax, Deliverance, Vengeance Rising, Tourniquet, Megadeth, Nuclear Assault and the rest of the classic Thrash bands, YOU HAVE TO BUY ULTIMATUM!

Upon first listen of the new album by Ultimatum, a newer fan of the band such as myself, will first notice a large improvement on production values on the new disc as compared to their earlier works. The vocals are in your face, the guitars invade you speakers and annihilate all in their way. The drums have a clean, authentic sound, and the bass guitar is audible and mixes well with the guitar work of Robert Gutierrez.

Below are some of my opinions on a few of the album tracks¡K¡K.

The album begins with One For All. A mid to fast paced solid song that showcases vocalist Scott Waters¡¦ voice perfectly.

Next up is Exonerate. A powerhouse of a song that sirs things up nicely early in the album and gets your blood pumping. The vocals are more aggressive on this track than anything I have heard from Ultimatum in the past, and I like it. º

By the time track number three rolls around on an album, the band usually showcases a more mellow song to give the listener a chance to catch their breath. So is not the case of Death Wish. Another brutal song that kicks your behind and doesn¡¦t let up.

Blood Covenant. A typical Ultimatum song that is solid and power driven. This is the most melodic of them all so far. An awesome song all around. Plenty of meaty lead guitar breaks in this one.

Wrathchild. The classic Iron Maiden song Ultimatum-ized. Actually, this sounds as though it were recorded by the Once Dead era Vengeance Rising rather than a modern band in 2007. I am happy with this and you should be as well.

Transgressor is the album¡¦s highlight in my opinion. An exciting song that makes me wish I had hair to head bang with. There is something about this song that seems more powerful than the other tracks on the album, and I find myself returning to this song more than the others.

Blind Faith has my favorite lyrics of all the songs and is my second favorite song. This is metal. Mid paced and heavy from front to back. Killer song.

Into The Pit. What an spectacular instrumental piece. Its nice to hear the great guitar work of Mr. Gutierrez exposed in all it¡¦s glory. I¡¦m not sure if he does all the guitar work on this song or not, but regardless this song is a treat to listen to. Also, are those keyboards I hear? º Awesome.


Over all, this album solidifies Ultimatum¡¦s place among the heavy hitters of Christian metal history. Everything has fallen neatly into place on this album. I honestly can place them right up there with Deliverance and Vengeance Rising on the excellence scale. I truly hope these guys continue to produce solid music like the Into The Pit album for years to come.

I don't mean that in the negative sense -- that they sound archaic or can't play -- but rather in the sense that there's a primal savagery and keep-it-simple motif to INTO THE PIT. Imagine if four neanderthals time-warped to the present and released a metal album; that's what INTO THE PIT sounds like.

INTO THE PIT was my introduction to Ultimatum last June; I liked it so much that I immediately picked up their 3 other studio efforts. What surprised me was that their other 3 disks are anything but inferior in songwriting or overall quality (although their first one may be a glorified demo, it sounds great to my ears).

Ultimatum (from New Mexico) play a style of metal that's rooted in traditional metal and thrash but has a fresh appeal. This is a timeless style pure and simple. I like the way they mix styles and tempos, which keeps the songs from getting boring and indistinguishable. The lead soloing is the type I prefer -- wild, unschooled, awe-inspiring and melodically haunting.

As for singer Scott Waters, he's the frosting on the cake. He's so unique that I could understand people not liking his efforts but, really, he's what makes Ultimatum's music soar. On the earlier albums Scott had a Sousa/Mustaine/Udo thing going on but that's all pretty much dropped here for a more aggressive, low, primal delivery. Either way his vocals work for this style. He's not one-dimensional; he adapts to the needs of the song and gives it all his heart.

In reviewing INTO THE PIT one can't fail to point out the great cover art of the devil, chained, being cast into a fiery abyss. Surely this ranks with the best metal cover-art of all time! (One minor nitpick: I doubt satan would have six-pack abs as he's self-indulgent and undisciplined; he'd more likely have an unsightly flabby gut -- lol).

As for the songs, the track that turned me on to buying the album was "Blood Covenant" (I saw 'em play it live on youtube); it features an incredibly catchy and melodic chorus. Opener "One for All" is perfect to start the album off. "Exonerate" is primal, hooky and brutal. "Deathwish" is another quality track with a sweet haunting lead solo. "Heart of Metal" is one of the standout tracks; it's just catchy as all get out. Yes, the metal-anthem lyrics are a bit cheesy but what great metal band doesn't have its share of cheese? (Okay, Metallica never delved into cheese; they just have whole albums that reek!) "Wrathchild" is a decent Maiden cover.

The second half of the cd I didn't like at first (with the exception of the title instrumental) but each song grew on me. "Transgressor" strikes a goofy vibe with the main riff & stanzas but it won me over with its lyrics, catchiness and total originality. The speedy "Blink" originally appeared on their first release; it features a simple, barked-out chorus and ultimately won me over (pun intended). This is a far superior rendition, by the way; it needed redone. "Blind Faith" is solid. "Into the Pit" is a sweet, haunting instrumental. I wish it were longer, but maybe it's just as long as it needs to be? "Game Over" is a decent closer; I especially enjoy the unexpected and melodic lead section. I initially didn't like one between-verses riff but then it dawned on me how unique it was -- gotta respect that.

Although I rate Ultimatum's first two cds higher due to their superior & creative songwriting INTO THE PIT is still a quality release. It's simpler and more savage, but quite good.

If I were to sum up each Ultimatum release with a pithy blurb it would be as follows:

SYMPHONIC EXTREMITIES (1995): Most innovative.
PUPPET OF DESTRUCTION (1998): Catchiest songs.
MECHANICS OF PERIOUS TIMES (2001): Heavier-than-thou.
INTO THE PIT (2007): More basic and primal.

GRADE: B

Upon first listen of the new album by Ultimatum, a newer fan of the band such as myself, will first notice a large improvement on production values on the new disc as compared to their earlier works. The vocals are in your face, the guitars invade your speakers and annihilate all in their path. The drums have a clean, authentic sound, and the bass guitar is audible and mixes well with the guitar work of Robert Gutierrez. Below are some of my opinions on a few of the album tracks.......

The album begins with One For All. A mid to fast paced solid song that showcases vocalist Scott Waters' voice perfectly. Next up is Exonerate. A powerhouse of a song that sirs things up nicely early in the album and gets your blood pumping. The vocals are more aggressive on this track than anything I have heard from Ultimatum in the past, and I like it. By the time track number three rolls around on an album, the band usually showcases a more mellow song to give the listener a chance to catch their breath. So is not the case of Death Wish. Another brutal song that kicks your behind and doesn't let up. Blood Covenant. A typical Ultimatum song that is solid and power driven. This is the most melodic of them all so far. An awesome song all around. Plenty of meaty lead guitar breaks in this one. Wrathchild. The classic Iron Maiden song Ultimatum-ized. Actually, this sounds as though it were recorded by the Once Dead era Vengeance Rising rather than a modern band in 2007. However, this song leaves me wanting more. I can't put my finger on it, but this is my least favorite song on the album. Transgressor is the album's highlight in my opinion. An exciting song that makes me wish I had hair to head bang with. There is something about this song that seems more powerful than the other tracks on the album, and I find myself returning to this song more than the others. Blind Faith has my favorite lyrics of all the songs and is my second favorite song. This is metal. Mid paced and heavy from front to back. Killer song. Into The Pit. What an spectacular instrumental piece. Its nice to hear the great guitar work of Mr. Gutierrez exposed in all it's glory. I'm not sure if he does all the guitar work on this song or not, but regardless this song is a treat to listen to. Also, are those keyboards I hear? Awesome. Game Over. This song sounds like a closer to me. The mid paced vocal section is a nice change to what one would think would be a fast song all the way through. Nice touch at the end.

Over all, this album solidifies Ultimatum's place among the heavy hitters of Christian metal history. Everything has fallen neatly into place on this album. I honestly can place them right up there with Deliverance and Vengeance Rising on the excellence scale. I truly hope these guys continue to produce solid music like the Into The Pit album for years to come.

Of the five albums Ultimatum has put out, "Into the Pit" is their best one, and it proves that they should be right up there with some of the best Christian thrash metal bands. Since I live in the band's home city, I've had the chance to see a lot of thier gigs and they always put on a good show.
Scott Waters is still venomous as ever on the vocals, and if you love shredding guitar solos, Robert Gutierrez does plenty of that. Bassist Rob Whitlock and drummer Alan Tuma are a solid rhythm section. Former Ultimatum members Steve Trujillo (guitar), Augustine Ortiz (guitar), and Sean Griego (drums) all did a fine job on the album, too.
All eleven tracks are good. Moments that I really enjoy on the album start with "One for All". Robert and Augustine are trading off guitar solos, and it really adds a lot of excitement to the song. They both show different styles of playing. Four minutes into "Deathwish", there's a really catchy riff that's repeated and Steve does short solos displaying good guitar skills in between the riffs. There's plenty of headbanging throughout the album, and "Heart of Metal", is a great track for it, especially when they play it live. This one really gets the Ultimaniacs fired up. "Into the Pit", is a doomy and musically melodic instrumental track. When the drums come in one minute into the song, there's a keyboard being played in the background adding more feeling to the song. There's some really interesting guitar harmony near the end of the song played by Robert. In "Game Over", after the verse where there are no lyrics, there's a really cool key change that fits well with the song. When the lyrics come back, it goes back to the original key. "Blink", which is on their debut "Symphonic Extremities" album, the band recorded it again on this album and played even better. Augustine executed a very fast and very smooth solo. They even covered Iron Maiden's "Wrathchild", and did a very good job, and as one fan wrote in a previous reveiw covering a song from Maiden isn't easy to do.
All of this is done by some really cool guys that are a lot of fun to be around. If you really enjoy some good headbangin' thrash metal, you will not be disappointed with this one.

Mighty New Mexico thrasher's Ultimatum return with their first album in 6 years titled Into The Pit. Not only is this album a long time coming, it also very well may be the best music Ultimatum has ever produced in their 14 year existence.

Best described as a blend of Classic and Thrash Metal, Ultimatum's sound is pure, simple and true. Loads of double kick drums, ripping guitar solos & riffs galore! Guitarist Robert Gutierrez absolutely shreds all the way through this album. Vocally, Scott Waters displays a growly, Death Metal influenced vocal style similar to that of early Vengeance Rising and Celtic Frost. Song to song, the band are relentless in their presentation and execution pouring themselves completely into their performances. The energy really comes across on this recording. Some of the best numbers include "Blood Covenant", "One For All", "Exonerate", "Blind Faith" and a spirited rendition of Iron Maiden's "Wrathchild".

All in all, Ultimatum has produced one of the year's top Thrash Metal albums along with 2007 releases from Hirax, Evile, Fueled By Fire and Dekapitator. In other words, it's easily a Top 10 Thrash release. If you like your Metal straight to the point and thrashy, dig into this.