Review Summary: Brilliant and fun, though the length feels forced at times
Adding Heads to the Pile is a brilliant example of the "geeks in heavy metal" scene, that seems to have become a trend over the past few years. Granted, most of the releases from other geek themed metal bands (if you can honestly call them metal) suck major ballsack with their ***ty "nintendocore" and similar genres, but this isn't one of those. This is a thing of beauty. This is an album that you'll give more than a single spin in your CD player. Although, there are a few lengthy tracks that could have used some time reduction, it's still worth purchasing the CD or at least giving a listen.
When I first put this in my CD player I thought to myself, "These guys had better done a damn fine job here," (after all I did spend 15 dollars, plus an extra 3 for shipping), and I assure you they did. For the first few tracks I even thought they had outdone their previous effort "WarChiefs of the Apocalypse", which was an outstanding effort all the way through. But when I got to the later tracks such as 'Stormbringer" (which, don't get me wrong, it's a killer track) I started to feel like things were getting a little too heavily drawn out. As opposed to just making a badass concept track, they seemed to be shooting for simply a lengthy track. Which somewhat is what this whole thing was intended to be, is a metal album with killer concept. These long, boring, and drawn out moments appeared on every single song except for the instrumental ones, and as much as I love some killer instrumentals going on, it started to sound more repetitive and forced after a while instead of being enjoyable and fun. I mean honestly, as much as a proper album from any genre, not just metal should have some decent length to at least get the money's worth, this just put too much effort into it. Sometimes making what seemed like 4 minutes of solid guitar work and no fun concept lyrics. Especially on concept releases like this one. It should be lyrically heavy, not lengthily heavy. That's also the case if an album is going to be as freaking long as this one is. I mean come on this is over an hour long which normally is very good thing because that means the 15 dollars this cost was really a great investment, but when that length feels like it was forced it doesn't have the same satisfying feeling at the end, and therefore didn't make me want to sit down and listen to this album all the way through again. Pretty sad, right? And in addition to the main portion of the album being drawn out and mildly repetitive, there was another major standout example track titled "A Deeper Evil". This started out feeling really ambient and awesome at first. Really setting the mood for a post-slaughterfest on a battlefield, but quickly went downhill after I heard the same few notes over, and over, and over, and over for 3 minutes straight. It's just constant repetition, following a pattern for the full 7 minutes of its run time. 7 minutes!!!!!!!! This is the concluding track on the album, meaning it's supposed to wrap it all up in a way that truly feels satisfying and fulfilling. It's not supposed to be long and boring, so that all you're doing is waiting for it to end. But sadly that is all this track did, and in turn greatly reduced any point redemption this may have had, much to my disappointment.
Still on the subject of the instrumental portion, positive stuff this time. The riffs, are as metal as it gets. Headbanging and other metalhead stereotypes are inevitable and damn near impossible to resist acting upon. The metal-as-*** riffs paired with the flawless heavy pounding of the drums makes for some killer heavy metal tunes. The drums feel like something of a 21st century Cannibal Corpse record, but with more emphasis behind them. While the guitars sound more like something out of a Vader album. Putting these together with perfect bass pairing made this feel like my ears were shaking when cranked up to ideal volume. Which is damn near the max by the way, just so you know, which is another one of those metalhead stereotypes I couldn't help but act upon.
I can also appreciate this album's effort to create a killer storyline style of composition. The whole concept of this album is the final orc domination when the Stormbringer comes and wipes out every living thing that isn't worthy their orc god Gzoroth. In some ways this deserved to have the length it did, just not how it was executed. As I followed along with the lyrics I felt myself getting immersed in a brilliantly creative and fun experience when casting aside the lengthy overbearance, and simply enjoying the content of the lyrics. I almost felt like I was one of the orcs in a dark and brutal fantasy epic, and I was the one lopping heads off (that's right, I like role playing in my head, so what), to add them to my personal collection of dead relics. There are also concept tracks that describe not only the action of the domination, but the setting in which they take place. "In the Keeper's Chamber" and "Hall of Frozen Dead" are shining examples of this. Keeper's Chamber sets the atmosphere of a torture room where prisoners are kept and well, tortured. Making for a top of the line, straight up brutal metal track through and through. Then "Hall of Frozen Dead" comes around and paints you an almost Nordic setting that made me personally think of the Mines of Moria from the Lord of the Rings universe. Just throwing that note on the table screams fantasy geeks right there. Making this an album for all of those D&D and WoW fans out there.
The vocals are also a mojor standout point in their execution. Gogog Bloodthroat has proved that he truly is the lead orc in every track these axe wielding dominators have ever put out. With the amazing transitions from the scream to the growling war cry, there is nothing held back with every energy fueled vocal performance put onto every tack. Sometimes seeming to draw from the vocal influence of Vader vocalist Peter Wiwczarek, so expect the highest of his relentless intensity flawless technique, and doing all of it through the eyes of an orc. Making the vocals seem even more brutal and truly heavy with every grunt, growl and scream.
In final conclusion, the only thing preventing this from getting a perfect score was the drawn out, and at times seemingly forced length. I also would have personally liked more concept focus for a more immersive listening experience, but when casting that aside this is perfect in every way possible and really does deserve proper recognition as a work of sheer brilliance, and nothing less. I highly recommend going out and grabbing a copy of this wherever you can find it. Especially recommended for those that really aren't much for concept and simply like to put on some killer metal with insane riffs, and just ***ing shred.