Cost: $2.00
While this wasn't a find I was particularly super excited about, I was quite pleased to find it still sealed in the bargain bin. Of course, that all changed when I opened it and discovered the jewel case had caught the last page of the booklet, giving an otherwise minty CD a particularly nasty tab mark. Ugh.
Considering the year of release and how this is a mix of thrash and melodic death metal with some Nevermore-ish touches, I'm genuinely surprised Century Media didn't put this out. The proficient guitarwork is based more in shreddy soloing than Maidenesque twin harmonies, and stands out positively. Vocals are typically gruff but there are some clean vocals and sparse highs which all bring Warrel Dane comparisons (sadly, no "Battle Angels" shrieks) to mind. Overall not my favorite thing, but ok for the style. It's thrashy and energetic enough that I'd pick it over The Haunted and their ilk as well as any number of derivative melodeath bands, although I'd truthfully rather just play a solid melodeath-free thrash album instead.
As usual, the bonus tracks prove to be the most memorable and interesting. Despite the death/prog. sounding title," Cellular Disorganization" is a fantastic instrumental that conjures up images of exploring the abandoned halls of a haunted gothic castle. Creepy and ponderous, if it were on a shred guitarist's album it would certainly be called something like "Return to the Dark Castle" and be the token "darker" track. Nothing like the rest of the album, yet the best track by far. The cover of "Welcome Home" is quite good instrumentally, but brought down by the drab vocals. Considering the occasional highs on the original Altered Aeon material, I'm surprised Kjell Andersson didn't try for a proper King Diamond falsetto (although it could be rightfully argued that it's better to pass on them completely than to botch it). Even putting the highs aside, the cover's vocals lack the over the top theatricality that make the original so fun.
