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Arsis
A Celebration of Guilt


4.0
excellent

Review

by Per Ardua Ad Astra USER (30 Reviews)
January 18th, 2005 | 34 replies


Release Date: 2004 | Tracklist


Released in 2004 on Willowtip Records

Formed in 2000, Arsis was formed and after four years and two demos, a full length album was finally released in the shape of 'A Celebration of Guilt.' Arsis plays a heavier, more technical style of melodic death than In Flames and other more popular melodic death bands. Shades of black metal are prevalent on this album, along with a brutal side of death metal.

Lineup...
James Malone - Guitars and Vocals
Michael VanDyne - Drums
Justin Shaw - Bass

The opener, The face of my innocence starts off the album with some heavy technical, in your face riffage. Switching flawlessly between faster, brutal riffs and slower riffs with intense drummings, not to mention the occasional slow, melodic riff thrown in there. Everything on this song is top notch. Best song on the album.
The album keeps on in full force with Maddening Disdain, some fast more generic melodic death riffing here, before switching into the verse. The song continues to keep up the speed of track one during this track as well. There is some cool harmony stuff in this song, but other than that, it's a solid track but nothing special.
Seven Whispers fell silent starts off fast and extremely heavy, a real headbanger this one is, switching between real bang your head leads and higher more melodic riffs with no effort at all. Awesome track.
From a heavy track to a more guitar lead track in Return, this song is full of tightly wrapped lead guitar parts and heavy melodic riffs along with intense drumming making for an overall good track. Not to mention the solo in this song is nothing to be overlooked.
The next track, Worship Depraved is more your 'At The Gates' type of melodic death metal, some melodic intro riff and then into a heavier riff for the verse. Though Arsis adds their own twist in with the harmony parts that are prevalent on this album. The solo in this song is also quite good. Solid track here.
Along with Worship Depraved, this next track Carnal Ways to recreate the Heart, there is some more of some more 'Generic' music. They change this though by adding the harmony parts that are all over this album. We also get a change to hear Malones voice without screaming for the first and only time here, if only for a sentence, this part really wasn't necessary. This song is a solid track, some technical riffing and harmony parts. Good stuff.
Dust and Guilt starts off at a low volume and comes in blasting with some nice leads and technical melodic riffs, this middle part of the album has more of a melodic feel than the rest of the album. I absolutely love the lead/solo about halfway through this song, the song continues out with some tight lead parts. Well done track. This intensity is kept up with the next track. Elegant and Perverse, some more heavy, headbanging oriented riffs here along with some short solo action to fit the atmosphere of the music. The solo in this song is short, sweet and to the point leading right into the some lower, heavy and fast riffs for another solo, this one taking more of a melodic style, yet it is very short.
The sadistic motives behind bereavement letters starts off with Malone screaming vocals without any music behind, soon the music comes in, very harmonious with an awesome lead part which essentially carries itself throughout the rest of the song. This song contains some true headbanging riffs as well, along with a nice solo to top off the song, in a part of the solo i even pick up an 'egyptian' sort of feel from the song for a few measures. Awesome track, one of the best on the album.
The next track, Looking to Nothing doesn't really appeal to me, i don't know what it is but i just don't like the feel of this song, other than a few select riffs this song is nothing special, the solo is decent though.
The last track, Wholly Night starts with a music box for all of about two seconds before shooting off into melodic death, brutal hyper mode. Very melodic riffs here along with some awesome leads and a nice solo. The second solo in this song is a rarity among this album because it lasts over 10 seconds. Awesome track.

Strengths...
The chemistry, everything is right on spot on this album. Everything flows effortlessly.
The musicianship here is very good, these guys really know what they are doing when it comes to melody, and harmony.
These guys really can master there instruments, the drummer is an absolute beast, the guitars and bass are all played extremely well.

Weak points...
The harmony parts can get a bit old after a while, they show up in most of the songs. They sound good, but a bit overdone.
The solos are short, apart from the last solo in 'Wholly Night' the solos usually only last about 10 seconds. Sometimes i think they could have gone into a longer, more emotional type solo but they chose to stay brutal.

Overall, 4/5 from me. An awesome album here, brutal yet melodic.
For additional information and mp3 downloads check out www.worshipdepraved.com



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user ratings (793)
4
excellent
other reviews of this album
Mikesn EMERITUS (4.5)
...

Thor (5)
A Celebration of Guilt is the perfect combination of melody, technicality, catchiness and brutality....



Comments:Add a Comment 
Shadows
Moderator
January 23rd 2005


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

I absolutely love this band. Brutal while still very melodic with just the right amount of technicality. Their melodies are beautiful, haunting, and very memorable all at the same time. They have caused me to listen to even more melodic death, and I would go as far as to give this album a five. My only complaint was one you mentioned...the solos could've been longer. Granted, they're much more than the ten second solos you mentioned (plus most songs have a couple solos), but I could easily picture thse guys shredding for quite a while. They're in the process of writing a new album right now and I can hardly wait.



Very good review for an incredible band.

Stoic
January 23rd 2005


161 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

certainly one of the best albums I've listened to in 2004. a big thanks to mx (deathheads especially) for introducing them to me. also keep in mind that arsis is only one of the many good groups signed in willowtip.

Shadows
Moderator
January 24th 2005


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

The real question is, why do these guys kick so much ass?

Arucard
June 9th 2005


581 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Yes, that is the question. My personal faverouite album of all time. Just look at the Audioscrobbler artist listeners chart, i am at the top (xHeavyArmsx). Cant get enough of Wholly Night, best song on the album. Love the melody. Nice review too.

Apathy
October 19th 2005


645 Comments


So this is SF's avatar! I figured it out!


*Dances*

Shadows
Moderator
October 19th 2005


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Congratulations.



This album is just as good as the new EP. I suggest you check it out if you like good metal.



I'll be reviewing this very soon.

Apathy
October 19th 2005


645 Comments


Again, I would if my HMV was any good. :upset:

Arrakakaka
October 23rd 2005


685 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

It lacks here and there, but it's still up to par.

Jawaharal
October 27th 2005


1832 Comments


666th Post!
Anyways, this album doesn't strike me as very good. I'll have to re-listen to it again since its been awhile since my last listen.

Shadows
Moderator
October 27th 2005


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Matter of taste. I plan to review this very soon. I love this thing to pieces - all the riffs and instruments are written and played top-notch, and they have a very unique sound.

Apathy
November 2nd 2005


645 Comments


Mmm..."Return" is sooooo good. Christmas is coming, should I put this on my wishlist?

Thor
December 9th 2005


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I'll be getting this album soon. I sampled it yesterday and it was no less than awesome.

Shadows
Moderator
December 9th 2005


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Oh yeah, these guys kick ass. Check out Maddening Disdain and Wholly Night, a couple of my favorites.

Thor
December 30th 2005


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I got this album yesterday as a late X-Mas present and I must say, this album is fantastic. I like every song.

Shadows
Moderator
December 30th 2005


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Most definitely. I love this album madly. At first I only liked The Face of My Innocence because I thought every song sounded the same. What a damn fool I was. This album would be an easy 5 from me if the song Looking to Nothing wasn't so bad.

Thor
December 30th 2005


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Yeah, The Face of My Innocence is quite a monster. The guitar riffs that this band makes are so damn good that it's almost scary.

Shadows
Moderator
December 30th 2005


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Willowtip is about to start taking pre-orders for the re-release of this album (my avatar is the cover art). Limited edition, plus two bonus tracks. I've heard the old songs because they were available on the band's demos, and they're easily as good as anything put on the album. I'm ordering it ASAP.

Thor
January 25th 2006


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Probably my favorite death metal album of all time.

Sleepy
February 6th 2006


51 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Definitely up there with Melodic Death Metal classics such as Autumn Leaves' As Night Conquers Day and Dark Tranquility's Character. An absolutely amazing piece of work.

Thor
February 6th 2006


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

^^^^

The Face of My Innocence is probably their best song.



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