Customer Reviews

Virus

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

Hypocrisy hasnt dissappointed me yet. In my opinion "Virus" should be listened to at least once or twice everyday if not more. If you thought that you had heard the extreme sides of Melodic Death Metal...you havent until you've heard this!

This album is great in every aspect. Lyrically, intrumentally, vocally, etc. The only thing that bothered me was the lack of guitar solos and thats the ONLY reason it got a 4.8 from me.

The bottom line is, if you like Melodic Death Metal, and you like your Metal HEAVY and BRUTAL, then BUY THIS ALBUM!

The Swedish death metal titans return with their umpteenth album, which, with scorching riffs and flattening drums, has been praised as the group's finest release in six years. "Virus" is best when it's super fast, and, unfortunately, it isn't always this way. But when it is at its peak, it hits nearly as hard as vintage Napalm Death, and as speedy as Eighties Metallica. The members of Hypocrisy (which now includes Immortal's ex-drummer Horgh) conjoin as a team and plow forward like a tank, crushing everything else. "Warpath" is maybe the best song on the record. It has hyper-speed riffs and double bass drumming, and begins with an ear drum piercing, tortured bellow. The rest of the song flies by and doesn't relent. "Scrutinized," which has super heavy, steam rolling, churning riffs and a searing solo, is not without its charm, however, and "Blooddrenched" has more propulsive guitars and rapid fire drums. Finally, "Compulsive Psychosis" has bursts of thunderous, machine gun drumming. To give you a sense of what the vocals are like on this record, listen to track seven, "A Thousand Lies," where Peter digs deep for Opeth-like growls and even shrieks like Cradle of Filth's Dani. When the album is finally over and the dust is able to settle, the listener feels pummeled and quite satisfied. It's not the best metal album of the year, or even the best death metal released in 2005, but you could really do a lot worse than the latest "Virus" that this band is selling. If you've ever liked Hypocrisy, and if you even have an interest in death metal, make sure you catch "Virus."

What ever you pay/paid for this album is worth the money.
Hypocrisy have laid down all their cards in this magnificent album. It is pure in every respect and cannot be matched even by them.
Hypocrisy really don't have that much left to do after this album as it is the ultimate HYPOCRISY album and will probably never expire.
This is more than just another Black/Death Metal CD, it's a worthy investment that must be owned by fans of the band and of the genre.
Just get it.

Hypocrisy's new album Virus is sure to make new converts. this time the band is a four-piece. Gary Holt does an excellent solo on the 3rd song. you can tell Hypocrisy is influenced by Cannibal Corpse. the song "Incised Before I've Ceased" is a take-off of Cannibal Corpse's "Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead". included is a bonus DVD so you can watch the band in action. the DVD was definitely cool.

I agree with all the reviews, Peter put one of the best works in years, and with the addition of a second guitarist and drummer, sounds tighter than ever. Very recommended!!!

VIRUS is the tenth album in the career of this swedish metallians'...They've been on the road for almost 15 years, with 10 LPs, a couple of EPs, a live album and a compilation; plus side projects of all its members...And let me tell you one thing about VIRUS: Hypocrisy sounds freshier than ever...

Like if time didn't go by, Hypocrisy delivers a diverse and at the same time, a fresh new album, for all its fans, brand or new...If you're new to Hypocrisy, this is the perfect album to start with...It has a little bit of everything, showing Hypo's evolution throughout the years: fast brutal songs, melodic songs, mid tempos, epic, etc...

The band suffered a line-up change for this release; their first change after being a 3-piece since their first album...Long time bandmate and original drummer Lars Szoke left the band, and Horgh (Immortal/Grimfist; Tagtgren's friend) replaced him. Along with Horgh, Andreas Holma broke in as a second permanent guitarist, transforming Hypocrisy in a 4-piece...

Back to the album...I don't know if Peter Tagtgren saw this change as some kind of Hypo's rebirth, or it's just his unique talent, but tHEy managed to create their best album of this new century...(For the first time in their career, the booklet comes with lyrics!!!!!!) ...Most of the songs, have different arrangements, changes of rhythms, different riffs (melodic or brutal); and even some black metal touches, like in "Warpath", which has more a black metal structure for its changes of speeds and keyboards...You'll find more fast songs such as "Scrutinized", "Craving for another killing" and "Blooddrenched"...Or the modern "Compulsive psychosis" will give you a perfect example of how far they can take their approach and still sound very heavy...
And of course, the final touch that is "Living to die", remembering the great song "The Final Chapter" or "Deathrow(no regrets)"...

VIRUS won't become a milestone in the swedish metal history, that's for sure, and might not be their best work to date...But it's a great album that summarizes perfectly their career, and it's the best metal you'll find nowadays...

Even though I only gave this album 4 stars I still consider it to be an awesome album.Why is it that there just doesnt seem to be many peeps listening to Hypocrisy?They have been absolutely awesome since their inception as a band.Peter Tagtgren is a genius and a metal god,dare I say legend...It seems like every lick he picks on the guitar,every lyric he writes,and every vocal he decides to use is a masterpiece.He just cant write a bad song(and that includes his other projects).I think this album falls a little flat overrall thus the 4 stars but really you cant go wrong with Hypocrisy.So buy everyone of their albums cuz theyre all great and support not only metal but genuis.Peter deserves it and also so he'll continue to bless us with his musical,evil genuis yea!