The stake was shoved through the heart of Sentenced and from the band's blood another was reborn. Stronger and more wicked than ever before,
Poisonblack rises from the ashes and takes the place of the former outfit. They once co-existed peacefully,
Poisonblack being the sideproject and Sentenced the main focus of guitarist/vocalist Ville Laihiala. Now that Ville is concentrating solely on this band, he also heads up the mic as the former singer JP has left the band. Ville's voice suits the music better anyhow as he probes a vast array of gritty growls, clean singing and spooked spoken verses.
The dreariness wrapped firmly in a web of sparkling melancholy, thick crunchy guitars penetrating the background, rhythms that are rough and harsh yet keeping in touch with the ghostly spirits of melody... this all describes the sound of
Poisonblack. Crushing and depressing, intense and caressing, the finger is firmly placed on the pulse of gothic marked balance. The modern approach to metal a'la the last and most commercial offering from
Soilwork and the rock/pop friendly ravaged vampiric romantisism of HIM are melted to create something strangely twisted yet beautiful. Even when the guitars are screaming their emotional string bent cries, there is a certain dark beauty prevalent in the overall atmsophere that is like a temptress. A musical seduction inflamed by despair and lavishly luxuriating in a sea of haunted keyboards. This synth rush seems straight out of Transylvania or a Dracula movie.
"Rush" is the very picture of the perfect single in this day and age. Dark and heavy but catchy as hell. Laihiala expresses himself through crisp, clean vocals, gutteral growling, and sends shockwaves of the chills with his spoken word sections.
"Love Controlled Despair" has verses that croon like the melancholy HIM and then slams into overdrive for a razor sharp chorus. Molten lava guitar solidifies its place as a metallic monstrosity.
"Nail" lives up to its name - harsh and driving, like a hammer continually striking a nail til it bends, breaks and lays rusted, forgotten and broken, like a soul lost from the effects of a blackened love.
"Nothing Else Remains", the introductory tune, is a bristling metallic piece projecting the departed soul of Sentenced. A smashing groove keeps it accessible while still thickly pouring on the heaviness.
"The Darkest Lie" unravels like a Lacuna Coil track. An abundant infestation of synthesizers join the guitars for a richly layered sound that criss crosses like a pattern of scars across the wrist.
Poisonblack has worked over a fantastic album for its genre that is a tremendous progressive improvement over the debut, "Escapextacy". The songs are more varied and individually interesting, instead of running together like one neverending stint with depression as on the previous album. The overall sensation leaves the listener aching with hopelessness and reeling in the wake of disillusionment. Definitely not a disc for those on a strict diet of happy rock/metal but for anyone else, this is one
"Lust Stained Despair" that should be indulged in. Fabulous production, songs that will wreck your soul, and catch on like a disease that has no cure. But this is so emotionally and aurally involving, that wanting a remedy is unlikely.
Written by
Alanna Friday, September 22, 2006
Show all reviews by AlannaRatingsAlanna: 8/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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