Customer Reviews

Transcend the Rubicon

5 star:		(3)
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3 star:		(1)
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This is it! One of the most brutal Records that ever had the honour to make my brain collapse! From the opening of "Unfound Mortality" to the final Riffs of "Artefaced/Spit forth" ( a medley of two songs from their Subconcious Terror Debut CD) Benediction makes you feel like you are pushed to the ground and beaten with an iron fist! Death Metal isn't the right expression for what Benediction do on this Record, BRUTALITY WITHOUT MERCY COMBINED WITH SOME OF THE HEAVIEST RIFFS THAT WERE EVER PLAYED would be suitible. "Painted Skull", "Violation Domain", "Nightfear", tracks that kill at first sight. A must-have for any Death Metal Fan. One of the eleven highlights on this CD is "Wrong Side of the Grave", written by THE ACCÜSED where Benediction get Assistance from Jan Chris of Gorefest and Karl from Bolt Thrower!

Quite simply put, this was the best Death Metal album ever constructed. It contains a most perfect and unique balance of power, speed, gut-wrenching vocals, heaviness, intensity, and shredding riffs. Any one of the younger fans wondering who Benediction really is, you really need to purchase this album. Transcend The Rubicon not only defines Benediction, it defines everything that death metal was supposed to be. Even after being out for 7 1/2 years, and I was just listening to it the other day, it NEVER gets old.

That this is one of the best death metal albums of all time is not an understatement. Benediction not only didn't sound like anyone else, with this album they were able to break out with the skills they had been honing in on and come out with a stellar release. Almost everything has improved on this release, most notably the production is top notch and punchy with more focus on the mid and low range.

The guitar riffs are really catchy and melodic yet incredibly heavy. The whisky cough vocals of Dave Ingram are even further improved from the previous "Grand Leveller". They are even lower sounding with the benefit of the listener still being able to understand the words. The bass seems to have been lost again in the production. The drumming is top notch and is quite intricate in parts most notably on "Unfound Mortality". Most of all the song writing is top notch and always encompasses heaviness, melody, and precision. Songs like "Nightfear" showcase everything (great riffs, section changes, varying tempos) that is awesome about Benediction. The songs all range from 3:30 to a few ranging five or six minutes.

Two songs have been re-recorded from the first album (Subconscious Terror) and fit into the last track "Artefacted/Spit Forth". "Wrong side of the grave" is a cover from the first Accused album ("Return of Martha Splatterhead"). The cover is pretty good and completely faithful to the original. Listen to the awesome backing vocals on that track. Plus, what other Death Metal band would cover an Accused song?

Highly recommended for people who liked the first wave of Death Metal with bands that were able to do melody and yet still be heavy.

Trascend the Rubicon is an excellent death metal album. Unfortunately, the re-issue does not contain any lyrics and comes in a digi-pack. I HATE DIGI-PACKS !!!! The music is in the style of Bolt Thrower and Massacre, but with more twists. If you are new to Benediction, I would say this is the album to pick up, but try to find the original version.