Customer Reviews

Reptilian

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

 

 

This album is quite simply a masterpiece. Attention to detail was maintained at every aspect of this recording, from each riff and drum fill all the way through production and mastering. This album will have you questioning whether Armada is still the band's best effort and possibily even whether or not you've ever heard any music this good. This album gives you almost an hour of blast beats, incredible melodies, classic Keep of Kalessin break downs, and solid/dark black metal with some hints of thrash and - lets face it - some of the best metal you've ever heard.

1. Dragon Iconography - 7:30

Slow to get started, but stick around for the ride. The song picks up and even at seven and a half minutes it leaves you wanting more. Thankfully at this point you've only exhausted about 13% of the album.

5 out of 5 stars

2. The Awakening - 8:19

If you're a fan you've probably already heard this song on their MySpace page. While the song is definitely great I do find that there are tracks on this album which are clearly better than this one. My only complaint with this song is that it tends to drone on towards the end. You may find yourself wondering if the song is ever really going to end and pondering feelings of deja vu.

5 out of 5 stars

3. Judgement - 5:10

Again, this song was available before release on the band's MySpace page. This track shows how Keep of Kalessin draws influence from all genres of metal by showcasing an insane thrash riff - probably better than I've ever heard any thrash band pull off. Anything you could possibly want from KoK is in this song.

5 out of 5 stars

4. The Dragontower - 4:43

This song landed KoK 3rd placed in the Eurovision contest. Amazing how any metal band - much less a black metal band - could pull of such a feat. While the song may not live up totally to the hyper-charged black metal that we're used to KoK giving us, this song deserves a close listen. You will definitely find yourself singing along. In fact, this song really proves that KoK are not afraid to try new things, and that they can really pull just about anything off and do it as good if not better than any other metal band.

4 out of 5 stars

5. Leaving the Mortal Flesh - 4:25

Classic KoK sound at 100 mph. Some great sound effects of clashing swords loom in the background at parts of the song. Vyl is always doing great things on the drums, but the double bass work towards the end of this track is worth mentioning.

5 out of 5 stars

6. Dark as Moonless Night - 5:50

Things slow down again on this track. Keep of Kalessin are one of the only bands I've ever heard that can change pace so drastically and still maintain their classic well-defined sound. The chorus of this song - like any other KoK song - is so well composed and has some great melodies.

5 out of 5 stars

7. The Divine Land - 6:47

My personal favorite on the album, and likely my favorite KoK song to date. The song leads you in with some great KoK vocal melodies and follows up immediately with what I can only describe as quite simply the best guitar melodies I've ever heard. Every single second of this song leaves you in awe. Ever since the release of the Reclaim album I think KoK fans have realized the potential of this band, and they deliver it on this track.

5 out of 5 stars

8. Reptilian Majesty - 14:13

Obviously the longest track on the album, Reptilian Majesty changes pace and direction a few times throughout. This track is a great way to close the album out. While my initial reaction to the track is that it may not be quite as epic as I had hoped, it is still a very well written and performed piece.

4 out of 5 stars

In short - buy this album now, you will NOT be disappointed.

I first discovered this band shortly after they released Armada back in 2006. They've been one of my favorite bands ever since. So what I have to say in the paragraphs below ought to be read with this understanding: I am a huge fan. Fortunately, I am rational and consistent enough to maintain my high standards in spite of the urge to love whatever Obsidian C. touches.

So, while this album is excellent, it just isn't Armada. I'd say it's on par with Kolossus, which wasn't Armada either. I don't think they've changed their approach or anything, it's just that the riffs don't feel like a revelation anymore. All the elements are there, just without the stark. If you've listened to Armada, then you'll know what I'm talking about and need read no further. If not, then read on.

The Awakening is an excellent opener: plenty of blast beats, some clean vocals, and tons of blazingly-fast, semi-melodic riffing. One of the things that sets Keep Of Kalessin apart from other black metal acts is that they refuse to over burden the song with needless and self-indulgent riffing. I'd site this song as an example.

The most notably new element on this record (apart from the increasing usage of clean vocals) is the inclusion of mid-tempo rhythms. While this can get a bit tedious at times, as a whole I feel it makes the album stronger, breaking up the super-speed onslaught. The DragonTower and Dark As Moonless Night feel downright slow in Keep of Kalessin's catalogue, and personally, I don't object. You can make up your own mind about The DragonTower, which feels almost like a pop song. Personally, I like it. But I could just as easily see myself hating it.

While there certainly aren't any even mediocre songs on Reptilian, I'd say that Judgment and The Divine Land are this record's standout tracks and would give most of the songs on Armada a run for their money. Don't expect to find a Wealth of Darkness or a Crown of The Kings though.

I just these guy's live last night with Mayhem and Hate, and these guy's stole the show. They are kind of like a blend of Enslaved, Amon Amarth and very...very talented. Great band - great cd.

I had pretty high expectations for this release from Keep of Kalessin, and I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. With this CD the band seems to have matured and diversified a bit more from "Kolossus," their previous release...there's even a song that's drenched liberally in blackened power-metally goodness entitled "The Dragontower," a nice change-up.

If you liked their previous two releases I'd say you're pretty safe in getting this one; they've become consistently excellent.

This CD has so many moments of very good metal, but then it's ruined by amateurish blast beats with a snare hit like 5 times a second. That's such garbage. They go from a band showing tons of talent and individuality but then morph into a band that is a dime a dozen these days, completely ruining what has to be lots of hard work on an otherwise very good song. They really begin to take you someplace in a song, and I mean some really good music, then just seem to scrap it and throw in the same ole blast beats a 10 yr old can do. These guys show so much potential and promise.....including the drummer, way too much in fact, to be inconsequential and tossed in the heap with the hundreds of other blast beating bands that can't reign in their drummer and stop him from ruining the music. Either that or find another drummer with a larger repertiore who will add to the music instead of stopping it cold.