Power of Metal.dk Review

 
Cavalera Conspiracy
Pandemonium
Rating
 
Style: Death/Thrash Metal
Release date: 31 October, 2014
Playing time: 51:00
 


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!


Tracklist
01. Babylonian Pandemonium
02.
Bonzai Kamikazee
03.
Scum
04.
I, Barbarian
05.
Cramunhao
06.
Apex Predator
07.
Insurrection
08.
Not Losing the Edge
09. Father of Hate
10. The Crucible
11. Deus Ex Machina
12. Porra
Label: Napalm Records
Distribution: Target (Denmark)
Reviewed by: Reinier de Vries
Date: 31 October, 2014
Website: www.facebook.com/cavaleraconspiracy