Customer Reviews

None So Vile

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is definitely the best Cryptopsy album. It may not be as complex as _Whisper Supremacy_, but that album cannot match this one's audacious brutality and the sheer breathless rush of its bloody, inhuman onslaught. The riffs are all 'round better on this one also. The songs are unrelentingly fast, brutal, and Flo Mournier is the evil master of hyper-blastbeats. The music is broken up by high-speed tempo shifts, bone-shearing grooves, and twisted rhythms. Lord Worm's vocals are classic -- completely incomprehensible growling, and yet the music could not have been served any other way. Cryptopsy is truly brutal death metal, and yet musically sophisticated. Best of all, it has a strange trance-like quality to it, much like the most intense free-jazz, which is also a 'noisy' and intense form of music. For all we know, there might be some place in some layer of Hell that sounds like this. That's all I'm gonna say, you don't need a really long review for an album like this. Pick it up if you want a taste of mega-brutality.

You'd be hard pressed to find a set of songs that are more brutal than those on Cryptopsy's third album. But, even though "None So Vile" is heavy enough to chip concrete, Cryptopsy get by on more than just volume, because you'd also be hard pressed to find an album that is more tight, inspired, and technical. The riffs are skull crushing, the guitar solos are scorching (and more technical than most death metal bands'), and Lord Worm's deep bellows are relentless. But the drummer, Flo Mounier, is maybe the most talented one of the group. On such songs as the album's first scorcher, "Crown Of Horns," he beats his trapkit into a bloody pulp, as he drives the rhythms with great, precise, and blindingly fast patterns. Some songs, like "Lichmistress," makes the listener feel like he or she is trapped in the middle of a cannon fight; and some songs, like "Dead And Dripping," are so heavy, the vocals almost sound muted, because they are pushed to the back of the wall of sound. Elsewhere, "Slit Your Guts" has searing guitars and a jackhammer rhythm, "Graves Of The Fathers," has slower, churning riffs and pounding snare drums, and "Benedictine Convulsions" and "Orgiastic Disembowelment" are highlighted by head spinning tempo changes and more insane drumming. "None So Vile" is a great record (one that I overlooked for a long time), and it's recommended to all fans of brutal, technical metal (like Dying Fetus). And if you're not a fan, this will most likely make you one.

This album is so insanley brutal it's not even funny. Crytopsy is leading the way for the new wave of Death metal. The CD name describes them perfectly, there is "None So Vile" as Cryptopsy. Although it's hard to choose which CD i like better, this one or Whisper Supremacy, both are great releases. Lord Worm's vocals, although you can't understand any of them, are amazing. He has an insane growl and an ear-piercing scream. Along with Flo Mounier's (the drummer) backing vocals they make a lethal combo. Now we get to the instruments, Flo is one of the fastest and most technical drummers i have ever heard in my life. You have to hear him to believe it. Then we have the guitar, holy...can this guy play fast. Jon Levasseur is very technical in his playing and extremely fast. Then we finally come to Eric Langlois on bass. He is an amazing bassist, he uses the slaps and all that crazy stuff. He finger picks and everything, something not seen often with many bassists these days.
This CD is completley insane, anytime you think there is a moment of clarity in the CD, these guys hit you right in the face with all their force combined. It's shear Chaos from the first track to the last. For instance, in the song Phobophile, it starts with a beautiful piano verse followed by a lingering bass line, then BAM! you're hit with a sadistic scream followed by pounding drums and guitar riffs. If you like death metal, do yourself a favor and buy this cd now, you won't regret it. And if you can't handleit, then do what the last track says, "Go on... Run home and cry to mama!"

All it realy can be said about cryptopsy is that, if you know about deathmetal? Then you should be proud of these guys for making amazing musick. I assume if you love music with rythm intelligent lirycs and originality then you'll have no problem buying cryptopsy's " none so vile" and its truly fast with talent !

None So Vile is one of my favorite death metal albums of all time. If your new to cryptopsy, I'd recomend starting with this one. I have to agree with other reviewers here and say its probably the best cryptopsy album so far. So if you have the cash, and you like death metal, get it. You won't be dissapointed.

The sound of the album is very good. Somehow unique in its own way, although alot of DM bands try and imitate the style, this IS the real deal. The atmosphere is very intense, dark, and brutal. Somewhat reminiscient of oldschool death metal bands like Morbid Angel, only so much heavier, so much faster... but not to the point of technical wankery. Unlike less skilled bands of the genre, the brutality, the speed, the heaviness all serve the music perfectly - instead of making up for the lack of music. Not to give you the impression that Cryptopsy has alot of harmony - the music is very discordant and perhaps somewhat unmusical sounding - but in a very very very good sort of way.

Moving on to the musicianship, Cryptopsy proves to be more than simply competent.

The drums are simply ridiculous. Flo mounier shines here, showing not only his technical mastery, but incredible sense of musicality. Not only is he capable of playing the drums well, he writes excellently - almost as if the drums were a lead instrument, like guitar. It's no surprise hes often considered one of the best death metal drummers of all time.

The guitar is also quite good, Jon Levasseur being more than competent, but restrained. There isn't that much lead work on this album, although the few solos Levasseur does play are good, even if they occasionally sound out of place. The rythm guitar is awesome though. It never relents, always heavy, always good. There really arent any boring riffs, or any unecessary parts. All around awesome.

Moving down to the bass, Eric Langlois fits in pretty well. The bass is actually pretty loud on this album. Thankfully so, because once again, like everything else, its awesome. Most of the time Langlois is following Levasseur, but he manages to enhance the guitar parts, making them even more devastating.

Finally, the vocals. Alot of people consider the vocals to be the downpoint of this album. I dont. Lord Worm pretty much just growls the whole way through the album. You cant really understand anything he says, but Lord Worm still enhances the music. Don't expect dark mysterious lyrics or anything. I dont really pay attention to the lyrics - Cryptopsy is about the instrumentation. Lord Worm's vocals arent meant to be the focus of attention - he uses his vocal chords like a rythmic instrument.

And now, to wrap up this longass review with the production. Its very well mixed, giving you that authentic sense of rawness, while keeping the production clear enough to really enjoy the music.


Really, there arent any flaws in this CD... it just kicks your ass the whole way through. So if you didnt read any of that above, just buy it and find out for yourself, I doubt any DM fans will be dissapointed in this masterpiece.

Cryptopsy solidifeid their place among death metal elite with "None so Vile." The legendary Lord Worm delivers arguably the most brutal vocal assault in extreme metal(by the why he's back with the band and the live show is APOCALYPTIC. DO NOT miss the chance to see this band if they come to your town) and Flo is without question one of the best drummers not just in metal but in the WORLD. If you are a fan of suffocation, autopsy, immolation, death, malevolent creation, carcass or any of the other masters of brutality than owning this album is a necessity, than again if you're cool enough to be a fan of the aforementioned bands you probably already own this. Anyone who is just getting into extreme metal, stop messing around with the garbage you've been listening to and BUY THIS ALBUM.
Also strongly recommended:
Suffocation-Effigy of the Forgotten, Pierced from Within
Autopsy: Mental Funeral, Severed Survival
Immolation: ANYTHING
Malevolent Creation: The Ten Commandments, Retribution
Death: Scream Bloody Gore

When I initially turned this on and Crown of Horns came roaring out of my speakers, my first instinct was to scream "HOLY @#$%!" and hide behind something. This is the ~perfect~ death metal album- mind-numbingly technical and crushingly heavy, with a dark, twisted atmosphere similar to being chased through dank subterranean corridors by an axe-wielding lunatic.

Musically, it's flawless. I'm still trying to figure out how they managed to get so many incredible musicians together in one place. Lord Worm, the vocalist, is absolutely daemonic- his vocals range from frenzied grunts and barks to high-pitched screeching, and the lyrics he writes are wonderfully horrific. The riffing is incredibly tight and chaotic at the same time, and the solos have to be heard to be believed. The bass is higher in the mix than a lot of death metal, I find this to be a refreshing change, especially since Eric Langlois is an awe-inspiring bassist. And the drums- I'm convinced that Flo Mounier is the best metal drummer alive today. You'll just have to hear it- it's fast and incredibly technical without resorting to endless blastbeats or the annoying double-bass roll that's so prevalent in other brutal DM acts (Morbid Angel, anyone?).

I cannot recommend this album highly enough. If you like brutal or technical DM- buy it. If you like DM in general- buy it. IF YOU ARE A FAN OF EXTREME METAL IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM- BUY IT.

Post-None So Vile era Cryptopsy is more chaotic from a technical standpoint; however it is the dark quality that thrives in their earlier efforts. The instruments blend in so well it creates a wall of an atmosphere. The guitar consists of fast double-picking, crunchy palm-muted sections, which aren't overdone to the point of predictability, that sometimes reach climax underneath a well executed oppressive solo. Funk-twang basslines litter about as the drums dance over the ever-changing pace. Bringing it all home, the vocals are as present as a car wreck. Execellently executed death-metal from all grounds.

What can I say? I was wrong. This is one hell of a death metal CD! While Whisper Supremacy is still my favorite from them, I can totally see why this is hailed as a classic: the music is convoluted, very technical, yet catchy and somehow seems less intense than the follow ups. I mean, the brutality is there for sure, but it is CLEVER brutality, fast when it serves the song and slower when necessary.

The effect is that at first it all hits you at once and you think this sucks. I had to listen to that one 5 times (!) before I started appreciating it, while Whisper Supremacy and And Then You'll Beg were instant charmers for me. I think people (including myself, apparently) are quick to judge extreme tech metal albums from first listen. I have learned to be patient with such albums. Thus I benefit by slowly revealing something special.

Having said all that, I still think And Then You'll Beg is Cryptopsy's best effort to date, again, with Whisper Supremacy being my favorite. I also enjoy Once Was Not but not really because it's Cryptopsy, but because it's good stuff. I tried to get into The Unspoken King and like one song but the deftones-sound-alike vocals ruin it for me. Hopefully they'll do better next time.

None So Vile is a great record, one right up there with works of Suffocation or Immolation. If I had one gripe (and this is clearly a matter of personal preference) it would be Lord Worm's vocals. In my first, scathing, review, I have compared them to the Cookie Monster and I stand by it now. Mike Salvo works much better for me on the two follow ups. I was thinking of lowering the score to 4 stars for that, but given the brilliance of the music, I think it would be unfair. Were it possible, I would have given it 4.5. Since it's not, I have to go with 5/5 but, again, NSV is ALMOST perfect. Fortunately, Lord Worm seems to have learned from his mistakes, because his vocals on Once Was Not are good. In any case, for fans of inventive, original and butt-kicking tech death, None So Vile is undoubtedly a must own.

This is it. The ultimate Technical Death Metal album. So technical that it causes an enormous amount of pleasure to the ears. Cryptopsy's 1996 release, "Non so Vile" is an impressive demonstration of skill an originality. From start to finish.
Many extremely heavy riffs, and impressibly well played bass (And that you can actually listen to!), solos that get into the song to cause a storm, an impressive growling by Lord Worm and to make things better, you have the speed monster of hyper-blast beats Flo Mounier in the back making you feel that you are listening to a brutal Carnage during a 9 grade Earthquake!.
Now, some people complain because of the vocals. Some say Lord Worm is one of the best in the world of Death Metal and some say he's pretty much the worst. Actually, he's one of the best!. Yes, if you read the lyrics while listening to this, you won't get them. But if you do that some more times, you'll be able to understand them and the sensation of following the lyrics will be even better.
Now, the lyrics. Lord Worm is an English Literature teacher (Yes, a Death Metal vocalist teaches English Literature)and he uses his knowledge of Old English to write the songs. They are actually poetry. Themes include the history of Salome and her passion for Necrophilia (Hello, the cover!). Awesome Lyrics.
An impressive demonstration of skill and intelligence from this talented guys. Like extreme music? Then you MUST get this work of art.