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Ruination come from Lithuania and they manage something amazing: although they play a sort of let's say "Classic Metal" and step on well-known musical patterns they sound very fresh and original.
They play a very well structured music, having been influenced by many bands and different styles and trends of Metal, but all these are "embodied" and "digested" in a prolific and interesting way, so that the final result to sound innovative. It is not accidental actually that they drew the attention of Peter Tägtgren, who has produced this release together with the band.
The great asset of the band is the very clever and "catchy" melodies that literally stick in the listener's mind. Ruination consist of very well trained and effective musicians as individuals but their main characteristic is that they cooperate hand in glove and the final result sounds concrete. Melodies seem to be based merely on the superb guitar work of Ainius Staneika and Saulius Vinslovas, who play difficult but not boring virtuoso themes. Sometimes they remind me of the guitars of BÖC. This doesn't mean that the rest of the musicians are left behind. The keyboards of Vytautas Diškevièius play an important supporting role. Sometimes they sound more Hard Rock, sometimes more Gothic. Vocals of Donatas Abrutis, without contesting for a prize, sound interesting because they are sometimes clear and at other times "yelling"; not 100% brutal. However, they give a necessary Death Metal timbre, so as melody to be mixed with aggressiveness in a good proportion. Andrius Kraskauskas at bass and Vytenis Beinortas at drums contribute a great deal to the final wonderful result.
The first song "Eject 11" is a 4-minute Intro that inserts the listener to the "Xura" world with the magnificent introductory rhythm of "Souls On Fire". It is followed by the dynamic "Trust Again" and then the ballad with the aggressive guitar riffs and vocals (contradictory combination!) "Long Way". Although there is not even one mediocre song in this release I could distinguish that "World In Stain" is my favourite one and one of the best they have released. Very clever melodies entangled by the wonderful guitar extended solos. Those who have the query what the title "Xura" means the answer is written next to the homonymous song: "The Land Of Pleasures Unattained", which is proved not to be unattained at all, because both the song, of which the main theme sounds like an agonized persecution, (and the whole release in general) are marvellous. "Forever Descending" has a "running fire" rhythm from the beginning till the end. It combines both Gothic and Power Metal; something like a strange mixture of Moonspell and Running Wild. From this point Gothic influences are more obvious (Moonspell style)- even to the next very powerful "Dreamfield" - and escalated in the last song "Vision Thing", which is a Sisters Of Mercy cover. In few words this release is a small masterpiece of Metal and it is a pity that such a remarkable band didn't have the opportunity to be wider well known, although they have played in many European countries with famous bands.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Eject 11 |
| 2. Souls On Fire |
| 3. Trust Again |
| 4. Long Way |
| 5. World In Stain |
| 6. Xura (The Land Of Pleasures Unattained) |
| 7. Forever Descending |
| 8. Dreamfield |
| 9. Don't Take My Name In Vain |
| 10. Vision Thing |
: 52.51
| Buy other Ruination albums |
