| | Full Review | Ratings (789) |
Give your Rating |
| 4.5 superb | Pon EMERITUS | September 15th 16 |
I'm not a mummy or a robot
41 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | PunchedPeach72 | October 26th 16 |
I was so bored that all I could think about was how I wanted to listen to something else, it just felt like a dissonant blob of dissimilar riffs. I'll revisit it eventually but damn it bored me to death first listen
12 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | Phishstixxx | October 28th 16 |
I listen to a lot of death metal and this just bores me. Endless pummeling and white noise,
nothing catchy or interesting. Its only merit is its impressive technicality.
10 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | ramon. | August 24th 16 |
This is the best Ulcerate release since Everything Is Fire. PSA: This is not better than
Everything Is Fire.
8 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | OldCrime | November 13th 16 |
Drummer is incredible, but find myself
getting bored. No hooks or anything
remotely catchy that makes me want to keep
listening. Others have mentioned the
intricacies and more subtle aspects of
this record reveal themselves over time,
so I'm at least motivated to give this a
couple more spins.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Black Daimon | March 8th 17 |
A step up after Vermis with the inclusion of surprisingly warm melodic sections, but overall even more of a dissonant mess with little to redeem it or the band from falling into the trap of their own influence.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Alabaster Jones | October 28th 16 |
It's kind of embarrassing to admit, but before Shrines Of Paralysis, I had never heard an Ulcerate album in full before. Seems like the kind of thing someone who very much enjoys this style of tech-death should've done ages ago, but what can you do? Anyways, this record sounds absolutely marvelous. It's got a full, but not overbearing production job and the songwriting is top-tier, tastefully mixing dizzying and speedy technicality with atmospheric and slow-burning moments. The vocals are an absolute force, doling out punishment almost as heavy as the riffs. What makes the album truly engrossing is its magnificent sense of pacing and atmosphere. It's an atmosphere hard to put into words, but here goes: basically, the album sounds like a war between amorphous creatures made of blood, ebbing and flowing, almost dancing as they battle, inside a never-ending maelstrom of fire and lightning. Or something like that, I don't know. More or less, though, Shrines Of Paralysis is definitely one of the best metal albums of the year, and may be the best tech-death in a year which has a stable of wonderful albums in the subgenre.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Xenophanes EMERITUS | October 4th 16 |
If you don't mind listening to "Everything Is Fire" v.1.4 then you're going to enjoy another slab of atmospheric death metal from the best in the game.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Sevengill | September 30th 16 |
Chasm of fire is stupid good. Some of the best songwriting of their career here.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | Harrisonr79 | December 26th 23 |
production on this album compared to every other ulcerate album is complete ass sounds like total dog shit
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.2 excellent | Erwann S. STAFF | December 18th 19 |
If Destroyers was chaotic and brutal and Vermis ominous and brutal, Shrines is hellish and brutal. BR00TAL 'cause well y'all know it's Ulcerate and no Wonder Years; and hellish because of these small atmospheric passages that the band finally truly masters here. This is the combination of the best of Destroyers and Vermis, and the culmination of the very specific genre of atmospheric brutal tech death metal. Top 3 dm of the decade.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Risodo | March 7th 18 |
"Shrines of Paralysis" is just a standard work from Ulcerate, with a incredibly dense conpect and bordering on perfection. Every time i revisit the sound of this band, i caught myself in great doubt of what really is the greatest masterpiece of the New Zealander folks. The sonority and instrumental quality only increased with time, along with the speed and comprehensiveness imposed on the atmosphere created. Shrines may be the best work of the band in this current scenario, but i can always end up surprising myself.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | marf1300 | January 3rd 17 |
I think I would rather listen to an instrumental version of this album.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | Mordaunt | December 12th 16 |
I really don't get it. I play 10 to 15 metal albums each day, different genres, everything, and so for years. Some I like more, some less. Obviously. This thing is just unapproachable. Seems like it's soundtrack to something. But I can't figure out to what.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Trey STAFF | October 28th 16 |
With Shrine of Paralysis, Ulcerate serve up another batch of dark, chaotic, technical death metal. I’m sure there are subtle differences that people ultra-familiar with the band’s discography can point out, but I’m not one of those people. I hear basically the same chaos, tones, riffs, and growls I’ve heard on every other one of their albums. Before it sounds like I’m complaining, I’m not. This is still really good, but if it wasn’t for the subtle differences in production, I wouldn’t have any clue what album any Ulcerate song came from… and since we’re being honest, even the different productions wouldn’t really help.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Bedex | April 23rd 20 |
I need to rejam this because the conditions weren't ideal and I might rate it higher on second spin, but either way this is clearly superior to the prior two LPs, and I think clearly inferior to EiF. From the get go you notice first that the prod is again not the best, and that this is the good old Ulcerate we had on EiF again and not the slower, more deathcorey stuff we had before - the vox feel like dm again. It does retain some of the blast beat walls and some other flaws, but it's really not too bad and the atmospheric, ominous atmospheres are better integrated into their sound here. 1 in itself demonstrates all of this. 2-3 is more of the same great stuff, with a nice break around min 5 on track 3. The t/t shows well how much they have improved the ominous vibes in their sound. 5 is a very cool interlude, and generally speaking this may be due to listening conditions but I felt like the latter half of the record was superior and bumped it a good point, with 6-8 all being fantastic and closing the album on a strong note. Again I need to revisit this, but for now 4.1
Bump |
| 0.0 | Blud Vidal | April 15th 20 |
I've always had a bone to pick with atmospheric/"wall of sound" records, so I've been apprehensive to test out Ulcerate. Color me surprised, as amidst an admittedly omnipresent noisy production Ulcerate manage to deliver blasting drums, technically proficient riffs, and guttural growls that distinguish themselves from one another while cohering into a fist of tech death. I'll be coming back for more, and I look forward to Ulcerate's next release soon.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | T5Cx | July 17th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | FunJan | June 26th 24 |
| 3.5 great | facupm | June 22nd 24 |
| 4.5 superb | mk7 | June 14th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matty CONTRIBUTOR | May 9th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | Verdr | March 22nd 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Above | March 8th 24 |
| 5.0 classic | Tool1 | February 26th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Djang0 | January 24th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | MO | January 24th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | Bard0 | October 26th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jake E. | October 23rd 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Titan | October 1st 23 |
| 3.5 great | sevhar | September 8th 23 |
| 3.5 great | ffs | June 3rd 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | J | March 6th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Shwany | January 13th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Captain3 | November 26th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Deebo05 | November 25th 22 |
| 3.5 great | cvlts | November 16th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | s8n | November 11th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jalapeno CONTRIBUTOR | November 5th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | MvdW | September 14th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Minkio | July 11th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Fasite | July 1st 22 |
| 2.5 average | Get Low | February 2nd 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | qt | January 26th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | x1balb4 | January 4th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | Iteidem | January 1st 22 |
| 4.5 superb | efp123 | December 13th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Onyx | December 12th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | RoxSta | November 26th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Qualeen | October 29th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lvxfra | October 22nd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ramasama | September 25th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Harff7 | September 16th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Jerrad | August 25th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Merv | August 18th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Pangea | April 30th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Taku | April 8th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Harlz | February 27th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | SaneTBP | February 26th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Aranox | December 12th 20 |
| 3.0 good | sicky | September 25th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Since | July 26th 20 |
| 3.5 great | YUJOS | June 27th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | alpsi | June 13th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Veldin | May 11th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | KaNe00 | May 10th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | slish | May 3rd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | SYL | April 27th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | wilemz | April 25th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | GBJ | April 25th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | apomifd | April 24th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | d00mguy | April 24th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Feels | April 22nd 20 |
| 5.0 classic | loulou | April 21st 20 |
| 5.0 classic | ulcer | April 20th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | April 18th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Kruppe | March 22nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zeuzo | March 3rd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Vasilis S. CONTRIBUTOR | February 20th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | MAB | February 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | TanMan | February 10th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jerbzz | January 19th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | pengui | January 6th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | yoil | January 1st 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Santet | November 29th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | BadgerU | November 7th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Elros | September 5th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | remi | July 18th 19 |
| 3.5 great | josh | July 16th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Coast | July 6th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | warping | June 10th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Sagal | February 12th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Faraudo | February 2nd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Loot | December 31st 18 |
| 5.0 classic | cav63 | October 5th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | YuckFou | September 11th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | cwebb0 | June 20th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Warpt | May 20th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Sapee | April 10th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Rausku | March 31st 18 |
| 4.5 superb | TBH717 | March 29th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Basara | March 16th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | bnyby | March 8th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | March 8th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | March 5th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Flave | March 2nd 18 |
| 4.5 superb | DEJ | December 22nd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Mikpol | November 3rd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | El Olam | October 24th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gary STAFF | September 29th 17 |
| 2.5 average | Michael | September 17th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | AriDoe | September 16th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | analc | August 2nd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | xerox | July 29th 17 |
| 4.2 excellent | clavier EMERITUS | July 21st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Awake88 | June 30th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Piglet | June 24th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Henry | May 2nd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | lyu103 | April 28th 17 |
| 3.5 great | WBM | April 14th 17 |
| 3.5 great | apert | March 23rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Trundle | March 23rd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Xavier | March 19th 17 |
| 3.0 good | K4nOo | March 12th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | emmny | March 10th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Momos | March 6th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Runeii | February 23rd 17 |
| 3.5 great | p4p | January 31st 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Andrew | January 28th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | KyoZM | January 15th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | mifzal | January 10th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | kx8 | January 8th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Deanlo | December 31st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | vakuola | December 28th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | DazSkunk | December 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rodstar | December 24th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Loofre | December 19th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | danb333 | December 19th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sunnyvale STAFF | December 18th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Caecus | December 15th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | gagnonov | December 15th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | gilly | December 13th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | ckssr1 | December 9th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Zeg | December 5th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jexic | December 4th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Ulshad | December 4th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | adr | December 2nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Fujay | December 2nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Arctick | December 2nd 16 |
| 2.5 average | DANcore | December 1st 16 |
| 3.5 great | TeeDeeM | November 28th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Brumas | November 27th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | DeadPoe | November 25th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | FakeOne | November 24th 16 |
| 1.5 very poor | TVparty | November 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Faenrir | November 22nd 16 |
| 3.5 great | Winters | November 22nd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Moge | November 21st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kyle Ward EMERITUS | November 20th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Archael | November 20th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | GodL1ke | November 16th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | chayka | November 15th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Greem | November 15th 16 |
| 3.5 great | gbowles | November 13th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Prole | November 13th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tasty | November 10th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | EJinHD | November 9th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Behexen | November 9th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Spec | November 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phate72 | November 6th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | sicrvat | November 5th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | hsb | November 5th 16 |
| 2.5 average | hadriel | November 5th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | jmh886 | November 4th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Rail | November 4th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Wizard | November 4th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | rid | November 3rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thor | November 3rd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | em17ah | November 2nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | 8genre | November 2nd 16 |
| 3.5 great | Eons | November 2nd 16 |
| 2.5 average | progsun | November 1st 16 |
| 5.0 classic | GhostK | November 1st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gmork89 | October 31st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | tarcus | October 31st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ouphe | October 31st 16 |
| 3.0 good | JWT155 | October 31st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Jeejee | October 31st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | ellagos | October 31st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | bmelt CONTRIBUTOR | October 31st 16 |
| 2.5 average | Brandon | October 30th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Nacen | October 30th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Dmitri | October 30th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | JS19 | October 29th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Evreaia | October 29th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | YakNips | October 28th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | tgdv | October 28th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | BenCee | October 28th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jade | October 28th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | ObsPoe | October 28th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | motyli | October 28th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hyndez | October 28th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | heck | October 28th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | elch21 | October 27th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | leycec | October 27th 16 |
| 3.5 great | trilo | October 26th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Troggy | October 26th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Wolfe | October 26th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Elynna | October 25th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Inveigh | October 25th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | GxTxK | October 23rd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Suli | October 23rd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Maniac! | October 22nd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | IrishC | October 18th 16 |
| 3.5 great | btati | October 18th 16 |
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