Modus Vivendi

Tad Morose | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 10, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Century Media
• ASIN: B00018U9NY
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #252,291 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Anubis

2. No Mercy

3. Afraid to Die

4. Clearly Insane

5. Cyberdome

6. Take on the World

7. Mother Shipton's Words

8. Unwelcome Guest

9. Life in a Lonely Grave

10. When the Spirit Rules the World

11. Rainbow Demon [*]

12. Knowing Me, Knowing You [*]

13. Losing More Than You Ever Had [*]

Editorial Reviews

Tad Morose

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It all leads up to this, March 7, 2008

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Modus Vivendi (Audio CD)

I've been listening to a lot of Tad Morose these days. Starting with 1997's A Mended Rhyme (which was the first album to feature vocalist Urban Breed), you can see the band's steady progression and the improvements they made album by album to reach their pinnacle - 2004's Modus Vivendi. This is easily the band's best release, and one of the best modern power metal albums.

Tad Morose takes their unique brand of dark progressive melodic power metal (think Iron Maiden meets Savatage meets Evergrey) to a whole new level with this album. They found just the right mix between the technicality of A Mended Rhyme and Matters of the Dark's anthemic sound, bringing the best elements of both together. Christer "Krunt" Anderssen provides some incredible guitar solos, and his melodic hooks and riffs are the perfect counterpoint to Urban Breed's powerhouse vocals. There are a few vocalists that can do no wrong in my book (Zak Stevens, DC Cooper, Jorn Lande, David Readman), and Urban Breed is one of them. His performance here is nothing short of incredible.

I could pick out specific standout tracks (the Middle Eastern inspired Anubis, the aggressive Take on the World and No Mercy, the majestic When the Spirit Rules the World), but the whole album is fantastic. Everything from the songwriting to the musical performances to the vocals to the production is first rate. Even the cover art is perfect.

Modus Vivendi is a must-have album for anyone into modern power metal. If you follow bands like Angra, Blind Guardian, Brainstorm, Iced Earth, and Demons & Wizards, you simply must have this album in your collection. Five stars all the way.

Unfortunately, this is (to date) the final Tad Morose album. The band parted ways with Urban Breed soon after its release. They have since signed former Liege Lord vocalist Joe Comeau as his replacement, but have not yet released an album.

NOTE: In what is a pretty rare occurrence, it looks like the US version of Modus Vivendi might be the best version to get. Sure, the expensive Japanese version has a pair of exclusive bonus tracks (isn't that always the way), but the US version includes three bonus cover songs. You get covers of Uriah Heep's "Rainbow Demon", ABBA's "Knowing Me, Knowing You" (believe it or not, this totally works as a metal song), and Accept's "Losing More Than You Ever Had". These great covers make an already great album that much better.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They just keep getting better., February 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Modus Vivendi (Audio CD)

Tad Morose has had a long hard career indeed never really getting any recognition from like 94' to 99'and its finally time they get the regonition they deserve.Soaring vocal's,chunky Sabbath size riffs,very solid drum work and remarkable chorus's make this a must have.Heres a brief synopsis song by song.

1.Anubis-Not exactly sure of the meaning,but it starts off with a Middle eastern punch and grooves right along with all the intensity of a powerful opening track also has a great Testament sounding breakdown section in the middle..great song.

2.No Mercy-More up-beat rocker here with some great swedish sounding riff's,with a great chorus also.

3.Afraid to Die-Awesome mid-tempo rocker,in which Urban Breed's vocal's instile a great power.The man sounds like he's about 10 feet tall and his name should be goliath.Awesome lyrics to,one in which states,"Make no mistake my friend i'll hold you till the bitter end,or face the music,get a grip now say Farewell".

4.Clearly Insane-Indeed,clearly the heaviest track on the album,the name speaks for itself.

5.Cyberdome-Not really a ballad,but the slowest more surreal type song on the album still heavy though,Great chorus also.Either has something to do with futuristic warfare or the internet...not sure.

6.Take on the world-Great tune,starts off with the Galloping maidenist drum beat,and a great power duo of guitar work.Which is found throughout the entire album.

7.Mother Shiptons Words-A very black sabbathish tune with double bass,also a very catchy chorus.Although i have no idea who she is.But thats what i like music you have to think about.

8.Unwelcome Guest-A song def.about aliens invading and one man stands alone,reminds you a little of predator with the soundbites at the beginning.This also sounds like Thrashy sabbath,literally the riff sounds like the Song Black sabbath sped up,and very much heavier,def.one of my favorites.Very heavy.

9.Life in A Lonely Grave-A song thats hard to describe its slow,heavy,chunky,and melodic all at once,and also has a very deep emotional sounding chorus to it.Awesome.

10.When the spirit rules the world-Has an opening that sounds like Egyptian slaves being branded by they're masters.Excellent chorus and mid-section break,very solid tight riffing here.

So its time to give credit where credit is due,they don't sound like anyone else,and they are certainly no average Metal band.If this were the mid 80's early 90's in the U.S they would be soaring.Unfortunately you have to go to sweden to find real metal these days.Powerful,monsterous vocal's,heavy guitar's to blow out your speaker's and just an overall sound like no other makes Tad Morose my new Fav.band for this New Mellenium.Nuff said.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exhilarating Metal From Sweden's Finest, January 13, 2005

By 

Ken Pierce "Editor, PiercingMetal.com" (Brooklyn,, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Modus Vivendi (Audio CD)

From www.MaximumMetal.com

Every now and again you find a group that you miss somehow. One such group that I had never heard of was Tad Morose from Sweden. The band was making an appearance with EdGuy in NYC on their way to the ProgPowerUSA Fest. After listening to the CD "Modus Vivendi" and also catching a live set I can only say one thing about these makers of molten metal......FANTASTIC!!! From start to finish this CD is an awesome piece of work. I enjoyed track after track from this Swedish Quintet and here are some highlights about it.

Tad Morose brings a special quality to the term power metal, as it is very old school in its sound yet can also be considered original in its delivery and overall vibe. The vocals of Urban Breed don't rely much on the operatic styling as many of his peers are apt to do these days. Yet they hold well and powerful through track after track. He is also a killer frontman getting the audience rallied to the music in a live set. The bandmates providing a great backing vocal to his lead making the chorus sections that much more full and exciting. The lineup has changed a little for those who have been following the group. It now stands as Urban Breed (vocals), Christer Andersson (guitars), Anders Modd (bass), Peter Moren (Drums) and Daniel Olsson (Guitars).

Some parts of the CD have a definitive Savatage feel to them and guitarist Christer "Krunt" Andersson will be quick to cite the groups influencial nature as part of their sound. You will find this homage most prevalent in tracks like "Unwelcome Guest" and "Take On The World" (my favorite so far). Some of the heavier and faster numbers are "Mother Shiptons Words" and "Cyberdome". As a metal fan, this is a CD that you should seek out, and a band that needs to play more shows in the USA. Give this a shot with the highest of recommendations from me. It is that good.

Band Site: www.tadmorose.com