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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Now they've really arrived, November 13, 2005
Whether Virus is the best album of Hypocrisy will always be debatable, but there's no arguing that it is certainly an excellent disc that easily surpasses their last three albums. Into the Abyss was a good release actually, but it just seemed weak compared to their tremendous back catalog despite killer tracks in the form of "Blinded" and "Fire in the Sky". As for Catch 22, while still courageously defended by Tagtgren himself, it was a disappointing release in more than one way. With The Arrival, Hypocrisy tried to put themselves back on the right track, but the album also contained some mediocre moments. However, Virus sees them really functioning as a solid band with a great lineup, as new drummer Horgh (ex-Immortal) is aboard now together with Andreas Holma on second guitar. Horgh is a killer drummer. His speed-of-light beats are both intricate and dangerously brutal, while Holma on guitars brings the band a much-welcome dual guitar attack approach, and his solos are perfect as well. This album has plenty of solos that older Hypocrisy fans might have been looking for, and if that's the case, they're going to love it.
A short intro segues into "Warpath", a song that is right up there with the best songs Peter Tagtgren and his friends have penned in their 15-year career. It is filled with ultra-heavy guitar rhythms that continuously change and reinvent themselves, and with the addition of Horgh's inhuman drum workout, this song should become a must for any live show in the future. Tagtgren sounds as aggressive and brutal as ever, certainly more pissed off than the last couple of discs, and he showcases a broad range of vocal styles from typical Tagtgren growls to terrifying blackened shrieks and even Opethian low growls. "Blooddrenched" is one of the more concise numbers, but Tagtgren's low voice is pulverizing and the fast, intricate guitar work on it is going to gain the band many a new fan. This Holma guy on guitars is a great addition to the mold. "Scrutinized" also features an infectious lead solo with lots of guitar and bass riffs surrounding it. On "Fearless" we have plenty of synth work, as things slow down for a moment, and melodic guitars take the lead while Tagtgren still sticks to his guns and spews out toxic high-pitched screams. Traces of blackened thrash are heard on "Let the Knife Do the Talking" and the multiple vocals on this track are really awesome. "A Thousand Lies" gives the listener some time to catch their breath; it's an acoustic song with both clean and death vocals and punishing guitar harmonies.
The anthemic intro of "Incised Before I've Ceased" is one of the finest parts of Virus because of its maniacal drumming and Tagtgren's crazed screams. However, what really makes the song is the beautifully arranged classical intermezzo that slices through the whole track. It's great to see Hypocrisy still exploring new territory and managing to effortlessly blend them with their otherwise in-your-face type of aggression. "Compulsive Psychosis", a track littered with very complex instrumentation and longer guitar lines, breaks into the final song "Living to Die", sung entirely in clean vocals and punctuated by a definite Pink Floyd influence thanks to its heavy synth and somewhat psychedelic underpinning. Virus is a great piece of work, hinting at a successful return-to-form feel and blending all the necessary elements of Hypocrisy: their knack for aggressive riffs, melodic signature, and tight instrumentation.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best album since 1999!, October 14, 2005
I've been a huge Hypocrisy fan for at least 10 years now. My favorite album of theres is(was?) the self-titled Hypocrisy album released in 1999. This is by far Tagtgren's most expressive album since. I was wondering if he'd ever capture the blend of pure anger and agression with harmony and melody. I think he did with Virus... I listened to it all the way through about 5 times already and I can't stop. I was upset at first when I heard Lars Skoke had left the band, but the two new additions (Horg and Holma) are very welcome. A must for all death metal fans!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing, perhaps their best ever, January 2, 2007
After a string of bad/very weak albums, Hypocrisy has returned with a vengence, producing what could arguably be called their best album. That's right - it's that good.
What surprised me most about this album is how much the band sounded like they did on the Final Chapter and on their self-titled albums: intense, brutal melodicism, the right blend of heavy riffing and tremolo passages, slow and melancholy tracks that balance well with the heavy, fast, aggressive tracks, and an amazing range of vocals by guitarist Peter Tägtgren. The second most surprising thing that struck me about the album is how original, new, and fresh it sounds. What we have is a paradox: on the one hand, this is vintage Hypocrisy; on the other hand, it does not sound recycled or stale in the slightest.
The production on this is really phenomenal, a real contrast to the last 2-3 crappy albums they put out where the production was terrible. Another thing that stands out is the vocal ranger of Tägtgren - he can shriek like Dani Filth or produce a deep guttural growl that sounds like Mikael Åkerfeldt from Opeth.
To sum up, this album is nothing short of amazing. If you liked the Final Chapter or their self-titled, buy this. If you like quality melodic but brutal death metal from Sweden, buy this.
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