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View Full Version : [Melodic Death/Black Metal]Dissection - Maha Kali


Per Ardua Ad Astra
12-06-2004, 07:56 PM
Apologies in advance for another EP review but it's all i have time for.

The Rebirth of Dissection that we've all been waiting for has finally come, and it has come in a totally unexpected way. A drastic change in the music occured while Jon was serving his prison term for accomplis to murder. Dissection lost their brutality, in turn for a more straight forward, direct, 'Gothernburg' influenced sound.
The totally revamped Dissection lineup features Jon Nödtveidt, of course, as well as members of Dark Funeral, and Nightrage to create a totally different sound from 'Storm of the Light's Bane' -era Dissection.
With the release of Maha Kali, Dissection creates melodic death/black metal that turns a new leaf in the Dissection era. While the melodic sense of music is still present, the band seems to have lost sight of the aggression that comes with just the name, Dissection.
Lineup...
Jon Nödtveidt - Guitar, Vocals
Set Teitan - Guitar
Brice Leclercq - Bass
Tomas Asklund - Drums

Tracklisting...
Maha Kali
Unhallowed (Rebirth version)

The title track Maha Kali starts off with some heavy, melodic, Gothenburg influenced melodies and chords. Jon's vocals still sound wonderful, but the music behind his voice just lacks energy which in turn takes away from his vocal abilities. The melodies here are good, but nothing drastically new or original.
The drumming is played very well, but compared to Ole Ohleman this is a travesty to the drummers of Dissections past.
After repeating the melodies for a few times, the song goes into a clean section with clean vocals from Jon and woman vocals, which i don't find that irritating and i actually kind of enjoy the somewhat climactic ending and the solo.
It's a decent song, but nothing original and sub-par for Dissection.

The second track, Unhallowed (Rebirth version) is a cover of their own classic song from 'Storm of the Light's Bane.' There is nothing wrong with it, but i don't think they really needed to cover it. The atmosphere just is not there on the EP.

Overall, the production is very lackluster. The drums sound boring, the guitar tone is decent but nothing like the Storm of the Light's Bane tone. There is just no atmosphere or energy here.
Overall, 2.8/5. It's catchy, but not Dissection. I'm dissapointed.

Shadows
12-06-2004, 07:59 PM
So this is just a 'meh' release? Disappointing...well, good review anyway. I guess it would be hard to consistently release something as good as SOTLB.

Bartender
12-06-2004, 09:13 PM
Yeah, I've heard more or less nothing but low reviews of this. Shame.

Squirrel
12-07-2004, 11:41 AM
I'm very disappointed with what ive heard and also the reviews of this album :(

Especialy with Jon having years of nothing to do but write music, he should have had hundreds of brilliant songs to record.

Silenius
12-07-2004, 06:48 PM
I was dissappointed by this.

Jon had lots of time to think of new stuff while in jail. How could he do this to us? One of Dissections best aspects is it's incredible drumming. And where is that cold atmosphere that Storm of the Lights Bane had? I hope the full length will be back to good ol' mid 90's dissection style.

Dancin' Man
12-08-2004, 09:01 AM
Are these the same lows that In Flames fans give R2R and Soundtrack to Your Escape? If so, I'll be checking this out as well as the older dissection.

Stoic
12-10-2004, 12:02 PM
I agree with the review. A great disappointment and far from what Jon promised us while he was still in jail. I remember an interview back in 2002 when he said that the new dissection's going to be the dawn of a new era...nah

LordDargon
12-10-2004, 03:40 PM
Too bad they went Gaythenburg :(



NP: Dissection - Where Dead Angels Lie

peber
12-11-2004, 04:00 PM
i sort of miss the reverb/hall/chorus effects on jons voice and the drums (wich is a big addition to the cold/evil sound on bane and somberlain), but ive got to say that i cant stop listening to maha kali.
great sing-along lyrics (even though they arent written by jon), very cool intro, great beat and that clean bridge with female vocals is nice to. But doesnt the drums sound like if theyre programmed?
overall, great song, not great dissection.

edit: theyve always sounded gothenburg.

Stoic
12-12-2004, 04:25 AM
I think the whole production sounds non natural

Squirrel
12-12-2004, 04:46 AM
It sounds too synthetic; far to clean and polished - totally lacking in that raw/edgy finish that their previous 2 had.