Tourniquet
Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm


5.0
classic

Review

by Keilo USER (6 Reviews)
March 18th, 2010 | 74 replies


Release Date: 2000 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A classic album from one of thrash/tech metal's innovators, sadly overlooked.

I find it sad that a band such as Tourniquet (which began in the late 80's) rarely gets recognized, and it's most likely because they promote a Christian worldview (and for the record I'm agnostic) with their lyrics and artwork and overall message, which turns the majority of metal fans off. I would suppose that another reason they don't get much recognition is because they're simply not promoted like secular bands, therefore demand and distribution is limited. Although, their last two releases (this one I'm reviewing and Where Moth and Rust Destroy) were released via Metal Blade. Also, their earlier works have been gloriously remastered and are available via the band's homemade label Pathogenic Records. But back to my original statement, I think that this band rarely gets the recognition they deserve, and it's sad because their music is some of the best that the metal realm has to offer.

As far as I'm concerned, this album should sit right along side other ground breaking bands like Atheist, Cynic, Death, Believer, and the multitudes of other technical or avant garde metal albums that have been released. This album was a monumental return to form after a brief wandering into other musical territories such as on the albums Vanishing Lessons and Crawl to China. Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm is ridiculously good, thrashtastic, and technically challenging... and the lyrics are inspiring and interesting regardless of your religious view.

One of the things I always found most interesting about Tourniquet, is that their drummer Ted Kirkpatrick composes most of the material. The man is a musical genius, not to mention a fanstastic percussionist. Opening songs like "Besprinkled in Scarlet Horror" are composed in a manner that reminds one of classical arrangements. It opens with organ and then into speed-picked riffing madness... the song continues to add other elements like more organs and flutes, acoustic guitars... ripping solos... and some of the most grand dual-harmonic guitar gallops I've ever heard. The title is tongue-in-cheek, as the lyrics will point out... no doubt Dani Filth was inspiration for it.

The title track has a similar feel... even sounding like something Extol would create during it's opening moments. The song changes tempos often and never fails to keep the listener's attention. The guitar riffs are fantastic and the drumming is very interesting to listen to. I just can't say enough good about this band.

The "Tomb of Gilgamesh" is another stand out, having one of the most spine-tingling screams that I can think of. When I hear Luke Easter scream "PLEEEEEASE HEEEEAL MEEEE!!!" my blood freezes. This song contains violins, great breakdowns and it's very catchy.

"Immunity Vector" is another of my favorites on the album, and it's an instrumental. This song really shows off Ted Kirkpatrick's drumming as well as how well the other bandmates (Luke Easter on vocals and Aaron Guerra on guitar) mesh... although this probably has a lot to do with TK's musical sensibility.

I can't really think of anything that takes away from MVoaTR. I suppose some folks may not care for Luke Easter's vocal style... I suppose some may not care for Aaron Guerra's guitar tone. I enjoy both, and only make the band more interesting. And don't worry, the production is crystal clear, thick, and you can hear the bass.

I really can't stress enough how good this album is, nor the importance of this band. If you like thrash or rock or classical or technicality, then I urge you to at least find them on Myspace and listen to a few tracks. My hope is that you'll really enjoy and decide you need to purchase their works. Check out their older material from Psychosurgery and Pathogenic Ocular Dissoncance to get a bigger feel. The band has switched a couple of members over the years so their sound has definitely changed.



Recent reviews by this author
Mortification Post Momentary AfflictionGod Dethroned Bloody Blasphemy
Tourniquet Pathogenic Ocular DissonanceTourniquet Psycho Surgery
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user ratings (93)
4
excellent

Comments:Add a Comment 
americanohno
March 18th 2010


2177 Comments


Nice review. I've always wanted to listen to some Tourniquet just never took the time. You need to add the track list/release year and to do that I believe you just go to 'edit my reviews' in your profile.

KILL
March 18th 2010


81580 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

nice review guna check this

Zipzop5565
March 18th 2010


402 Comments


Guess I should give this band a listen

Zipzop5565
March 18th 2010


402 Comments


I listened to one song. It was meh.

pizzamachine
March 19th 2010


27670 Comments


This band is insaaane

EnricoPalazzo
March 19th 2010


626 Comments


Zop doesn't know what's up. I'm thinking of doing a discography review of these guys. Definitely one of the better Thrash bands out there.

jybt
March 19th 2010


359 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Go ahead and do that, please...I'd enjoy reading reviews of Tourniquet. Attention to them is severely lacking here...

Keilo
March 19th 2010


25 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Actually... I was planning on working on that tonight...

EnricoPalazzo
March 19th 2010


626 Comments


Don't let me stop you, broski. Nothing against both of us doing discogs. I take forever to write reviews plus my main account is still a ways away from being unbanned.

In a nutshell:

GO FOR IT

EnricoPalazzo
March 19th 2010


626 Comments


Actually, I think I'll try doing Living Sacrifice's discog first. It'd be cool to have two of the better Christian bands being reviewed in entirety.

jybt
November 27th 2010


359 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

It took a bit of appreciation for classical music - Tourniquet's biggest non-metal influence - to get into this album...absolutely gut-busting in the awesome column. Never once did I realize I was listening to a 70-minute album. From a 3 to a 4, then 3.5...and now all the way to a 5.

jybt
January 26th 2011


359 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

This album proves God exists. Enough said.

MopHeadOvMetal
March 4th 2011


193 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

My dad used to listen to alot of Tourniquet (He's dead)

KILL
March 4th 2011


81580 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

rip

Ovrot
March 21st 2012


13304 Comments


good album

KILL
June 30th 2012


81580 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

god is power

Insurrection
September 2nd 2012


24844 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

m/

evilford
September 19th 2012


66979 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

good band

Insurrection
September 19th 2012


24844 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

title track is amazing

Emim
September 19th 2012


36070 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

will probably be their last great album, though moth and rust and antiseptic bloodbath are still pretty good



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