‘The Arrival’, a very ‘War Of The Worlds’ inspired concept album, released in February 24, 2004. Although not Hypocrisy’s best work, this is still a solid album meant for any one who is a Gothenburg metal fan. Here are my track reviews:
“Born Dead Buried Alive” begins with a haunting riff followed later by simple but sturdy drum beat and Peter Tägtgren’s ‘alien’ chants, it then bursts into a crushing riff and Peter Tägtgren starts his unique style of growling and screaming. After only about a minute of heavy riffs and thrashing vocals, the song then slows it’s pace back into it’s haunting riff and eventually fades itself out. This song is a perfect start to this album’s story. It’s lyrics loosely tell the arrival of the alien fleet coming with their plans to create a new world in which to live. Perfect for Peter Tägtgren twisted mind. (3.5/5)
“Eraser”, the best song on this album, starts off with very melodic guitars playing a dark melody in the back ground, which then blast into a slightly heavier version of the same dark riff. Peter Tägtgren stuns his listeners with a very rasp, sharp, chanting growl about a minute into the song. Then a guitar solo kicks in. This song flows really well and stands out from the rest of the tracks on this album. The lyrics describe ‘the eraser’, the mechanism meant to ‘erase’ the human race out of existence (if you’ve seen War Of The Worlds, you probably know what I’m talking about), and the quiet, dark intro to the song represents ‘the quiet before the storm’. (5/5)
“StillBorn” starts with a very upbeat riff and keeps that tone throughout the track. Peter Tägtgren delivers a very In Flames’ like style of growling in this song. Nothing incredibly noticeable about this song, but still a very good track that flows well with the CD. The song pretty much describes the alien parasites as intolerable beings that are determined to make mankind, if not cease to exist, become their play things as they scourge the now defiled planet Earth. (3/5)
“Slave To The Parasites”, probably the closest link between this album and Hypocrisy’s new album , ‘Virus’, begins with a very fast-paced beat and dark melodic guitar riffs. Although Peter Tägtgren’s vocals do not stand out on this track very well, he still manages to make this one of the better songs on the album. As the story continues, the aliens have enslaved the remnants of the human race and use them for their own vile experiments. (4/5)
“New World” begins with a very grindcore like style of both riffs and growls that does not even begin to light throughout most of the song. Peter Tägtgren gives a very Cannibal Corpse like growl for certain parts of this song, but in the chorus, he gives a very strong screeching growl (like Dillinger Escape Plan, only good screeching). The lyrics to this song interpret the aliens soon (if not too late) discovery that they can not handle the harsh conditions of planet Earth, and the parasites start to die. (4.5/5)
“The Abyss” starts with a very heavy riff and later joined by a very smooth drum beat and Peter Tägtgren deep bellowing. After a little over a minute, Peter Tägtgren starts chanting a very strange and haunting melody. This song also contains probably the best guitar solo on this album. The song itself represents the barren wasteland of cities ruined and life that ceases to exist as the aliens return to their mother ship. Human life is scarce on ‘the abyss’ known as planet Earth. (5/5)
“Dead Sky Dawning” starts off very heavy with thrashing riffs and Peter Tägtgren hellish vocals, similar to ‘Eraser’. However, the song lights up about 2 minutes 40 seconds into the chaos, and Peter Tägtgren does a very melodic, dark, whisper chant while you hear his screams and cries in the background. Another guitar solo kicks in and plays until the song fades out with Peter Tägtgren screaming bloody murder. This song’s point of view seems to of had switched from the aliens to the human race, as ‘The Abyss’ was sort of the transfer of that point of view to both parties. The alien parasites have decided to abandon their new found home, but are intending to take their helpless human adversaries with them, and the humans intend to rebel. (4.5/5)
“The Departure”, probably the last great song on this album, begins with a very apocalyptic riff followed by Peter Tägtgren’s demonic growls. As the chorus comes in, Peter Tägtgren begins a melodic scream/ growl that really gives the song atmosphere. “Descend into the eyes of eternity”, Peter Tägtgren screams. This song pretty much wraps up the invasion of the parasites, no longer wanting to deal with the humans, they depart, but not without taking their enslaved pets with them, as they watch their beloved planet Earth disappear from sight. (5/5)
“War Within” is the last track on the album, which begins in a very upbeat riff similar to ‘Dead Sky Dawning’. This song is pretty much straight foreword, with Peter Tägtgren doing his normal chanting growl throughout the entire song. This song really has little impact on the rest album musically. The lyrics pretty much describe the aftermath of the ‘war’, and the last of the human race’s struggle to survive in a world that is dead. (3/5)
Although I think this is an awesome album, it is no competition to Hypocrisy’s newest album, ‘Virus’, or their self-titled album released in 1998. Total score (4/5).
