“...it feels good to go back and do a ‘Hypocrisy-style’ album, it’s great to have our own style I guess. It’s kind of unique to do that style now because you’re always copying someone you know? Not so many bands have the Hypocrisy style of music.” [excerpt from an interview with Peter Tägtgren]

Everything about this album, save the intro to track 3, “Stillborn” [which is not a cover of the Black Label Society song of the same name but sounds like it might be a leftover from Catch 22], screams, or actually screeches classick Hypocrisy. “Thank fuckin’ God” to quote Philip Hansen Anselmo out of context. The mid-paced songs, the crystal clear production, the varied vocal stylings (growls, screams, chants, spoken word, screeches), the haunting leads, the excellent use of keyboards for atmosphere, the minimal but effective bass work, and the almost mechanically precise drumming is all in full force here. What a great sound from a killer band.

Do not be mistaken, loyal readers and true believers. Nay, this is not to be confused with Brutal Death Metal, as some would have you believe, or even Satanic Death Metal. This is actually closer to Melodic Death Metal but distinctly not 'gay' or contrived as so many Melodic Death Metal bands tend to be. If forced to stratify, this album would have to be considered a Brutal Death Metal record. Whatever the case, it cannot be strictly confined to that category because its 9 songs in 40 minutes contain groove, blast-beats, more groove, sick riffs, some subtle and twisted melody in the vocals, and leads that are as haunting and beautiful as you could ever want to hear. Well, if you like that sort of thing, that is.

I refuse to give a track-by-track dissection of this album, or even mention individual songs [other than that already indicated] because this is an album meant to be listened to 'in toto.' That means in total, ace. All at once, junior. In one sitting, champ. Individually, I suppose some songs could work. I know one track in particular has been played rather heavily on the Heavy Metal music channel available on digital cable and satellite dish services but it works better in the context of the whole.

Okay, here is your writer ~breaking the rule he just set. It is worth noting that the sixth track, which shall go nameless, is a re-recorded version of a song that appeared on the third installment of Nuclear Blast’s compilation series Death ...is Just the Beginning. “[It] is an old song we re-recorded because people were asking for it. It was actually the first song I recorded in my own studio and it didn’t have such a great sound, so we re-recorded it.” It sounds like it was written for this album as it fits in rather well. Of course, almost any compilation of Hypocrisy tracks sounds like an album because their style is definitely their own, as intimated earlier.

Thematically, Tägtgren is back on track with odes to aliens and all things extra-terrestrial. One look at the album cover would make that clear if you were ignorant as to the significance of the title. However, an interesting thing to consider is that Dan Swanö [yeah, that guy from too many bands to mention] wrote lyrics for five of the album’s nine songs and cowrote another. One of the other three had lyrics cowritten with Silenoz from Dimmu Borgir. So here we have an album about aliens, etc., and the master of said subject has sought input from others. This is a bit curious to say the very least. The lyrics still work very well, though.

Regardless of Tägtgren receiving a little help from his friends, this is excellence, plain and simple. With this fine album, Hypocrisy has returned, not unlike Deicide, to give the fans what they really want. The sentimentalist side of me wants to give it a 10. The reviewer part of me asks if it really is better than the latest releases from Deicide and Cannibal Corpse, which, coincidentally, were released on the same date as this album. What a great day for Death Metal that was! Mark it on your calendars, conspiracy buffs: 02/24/2004. Whatever the case, this is indeed a 9.5 outta 10. If you were ever into this band, get this. Your Abducted/The Final Chapter fix will be satisfied with this record. If you were never into this band and do not mind Death Metal vocals, get this. You will be rewarded. Yeah, I’m talkin’ to you so-called Arch Enemy fans out there....

In related news, Hypocrisy is no longer a three piece band. Original drummer Lars Szöke left the band soon after this recording was completed owing to the 2nd most common answer given for leaving a band: disinterest in touring. Ranking first would be “musical/creative differences” although I have seen a lot of Swedes give up due to touring issues [see The Haunted]. Replacing Szöke is Horgh (nee Reidar Horghagen), formerly of the now disbanded Immortal and also of Grimfist. On second guitar is Andreas Holma.

written by Tony Belcher

Playing time: 40.22