Damn, what a fast and heavy album this is!! From the first track on, the tempo
is high and after an intro the first song "Babylonian Pandemonium" shows that
the band takes no prisoners. Max - his voice is aggressive and growls like a death
metal vocalist and the drums are tortured immensely by Iggor. After that a real
thrash song "Bonzai Kamikazee" continues in the same fast tempo and the first tunes
make me think of Slayer in their "Hell Awaits" period. The riffs and guitar
riddles and tunes of Marc Rizzo are very effective and tight. New bassist Nate
Newton (Converge) forms a nice base for the crushing songs with some fine bass
lines. After the nice thrash song, the third song "Scum" follows and the first
tunes make me think of the first Fear Factory album. The song is a mix of Fear
Factory with thrash and hardcore elements.
After that the songs follow several elements of different styles like: thrash,
death, hardcore and grind. The groove we are used to hear in songs with Max is
gone for a big part, but in "I, Barbarian" it is back and that is a song that
reminds the most of their earlier work. I think that fans of Nailbomb will be
pleased with this album also, some riffs and song structures do remind me of
them.
In general Max's singing style sounds more aggressive and grunting, but in a
song like "Cramunhao" his spitting style returns a bit. Again the bass part in
that song reminds me of Fear Factory and that can also be said about certain
parts in "The Crucible". After a fingerlicking solo of Marc Rizzo, the thrash
bomb "Insurrection" follows and further on in the song he shows that he is a
real artist.
For those who are still waiting for some old school Max elements, the song
"Not Losing the Edge" will be very welcome with his Eastern of Soulfly reminding
part. The tribal style and some flamenco returns in the song "Porra" and that
makes this album, despite the rather brutal style change a typical
Cavalera album (still). Some fans might have to get used to this new style, but like
myself, I think that after a few spins you will be persuaded that this - a real
hammer.
'Pandemonium' combines musical elements of bands like Slayer, Nailbomb, Soulfly,
Fear Factory, Six Feet Under and the former bands of Max and that leads to a
HEAVY album like this!
