Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy ‘The Forth Dimension’
Nuclear Blast , 2000
Lord Pale:
I am reviewing the re-released digipak version of Hypocrisy’s 5th release from 1994. This version includes 2 bonus tracks from the limited Maximum Abduction mini cd but sadly fails to include ‘The Abyss’ from the original digipak version. The Forth Dimension is a lesson in how speed doesn’t always equal brutality featuring Peter Tatgren’s low ominous growls and tortured screams amidst a thick doomy atmosphere. Although rarely approaching very impressive speeds, The Forth Dimension’s focus is on melody and a crushing heavy production which provides a genuinely depressing soundscape. It’s not all plodding death/doom though as tracks like ‘Path To Babylon’, ‘Reborn’, and ‘Orgy In Blood’ provide enough variation in momentum to prevent the album from stagnating. The Swedish trio also have a certain knack for knowing when to use some simple yet effective keyboards like in ‘Apocalypse’ ( in which they are most prominent ) without abusing them and detracting frm the overall sound. Imagine this if you will as ‘The Final Chapter’s’ earlier cousin with the same atmosphere and grim intensity, only a little more simplistic and focused. Overall The Forth Dimension is a highly worthy album and this is a re-release that any fans of the bands modern material or death metal in general will want to pick up.
Favourite Tracks – Apocalypse , Slaughtered , Reincarnation
Mark – 8/10

Hypocrisy 'The Final Chapter'
Nuclear Blast , 1997
Lord Pale :
Hypocrisy return with their final album ( according to the band ) again expanding on the alien themes introduced on Abducted . This is surely the bands penultimate work , Hypocrisy's 'Heartwork' , the album all their career will be judged by . With 12 great tracks and no fillers , and a total of 4 classic tracks on one album , 'The Final Chapter' is a fitting swansong for these deathmetal pioneers . Varying between slow and doomy ( A Coming Race , Lies ) with deep gutteral vocals , to uptempo agression ( Dominion , Shamatuer ) with blakened raspy vocals , Hyposcrisy offer up plenty of styles within the album that make it an intense listen . Keyboards and clean vocals make brief appearences in well placed passages , along with the deep level of emotion that songs like 'Inquire Within' , and 'The Final Chapter' conjure , the songwriting on display here is formidable . A true classic that any fan of Hypocrisy or deathmetal in general should own .
Favourite Tracks - Inquire Within , A Coming Race , Request Denied
Mark - 10/10

Hypocrisy ‘Hypocrisy Destroys Wacken’
Nuclear Blast, 1999
Gloon:
What an appropriate title for this live session recorded in August 98 at the Wacken Open Air Festival as this little gem certainly does DESTROY!!!!!!! Kicking off procedures with the immortal classic Roswell 47 the album proceeds to romp through newies from their more space themed albums ‘Abducted’ and ‘The Final Chapter’ and older more death orientated tracks such as ‘Left to Rot’ and ‘Pleasure of Molestation’ without dropping a beat. What makes this live album stand out from others is firstly the awesome production which helps bring the big studio sound across and secondly the bonus tracks such as the newy ‘Time Warp’ (which was to later appear on their self titled effort) and three other previously unreleased tracks. If your not particularly a fan of live albums (as I must say I am not) then this one may not interest you apart from the new studio tracks, however if you are a long time Hypocrisy fan and want to capture the live experience than purchase without hesitation.
Favourite Tracks – Roswell 47, The Forth Dimension, A Coming Race
Rating – 7.5/10

Hypocrisy
Nuclear Blast , 1999
Lord Pale :
Hypocrisy seem to have aimed their self titled return album at a different market than the previous work 'The Final Chapter' . Although reminscent of it's predecessor , Hypocrisy focus much more on the alien themes and the music has evolved away from deathmetal into a sort of atmospheric , melodic progressive style of metallic mayhem . Alot more keyboards are utilised , and the amount of clean vocals has increased dramatically as well as a large dose of filtered vocals that sound slightly robotic . With all these elements combined it adds up to a very strange album with happy melodies fighting the seemingly desparate atmospheres created by the vocals . The snarling vocals still make a consistant appearence throughout , they are just overshadowed by the new array of sounds . With less concise song structuring and a lees brutal production , this may not appeal to all Hypocrisy fans , but what it does offer is remenants of brutality 'Apocalyptic Hybrid' and 'Time Warp' ( oh man that song sucks ) , and many moments reminscent of the slower doomier moments of 'The Final Chapter' such as 'Until The End' . I like and dislike this album , I guess its just not what I was expecting , but instead a decent stab at something different .
Favourite Tracks - Elastic Inverted Visions , Until The End , Fusion Programmed Minds
Mark - 7.5/10

Hypocrisy - Into the Abyss
Nuclear Blast, 2000
Gloon:
For those of us that thought the self-titled album was a bit dour and tame, don't worry this is a return to Hypocrisy's DM roots, 2000 style. This album is definitely a lot darker then the previous release and sees Peter Tägtgren’s vocals keeping more within the death Metal framework. The album has all the Hypocrisy clichés catchy riffs, alien abductions (Fire in the Sky) and the atmosphere. The album has some seriously good DM on offer too with the opener 'Legions Descend' and 'Digital Prophecy' being the standouts. However the rest of the album suffers from being predictable and average, songs such as 'Total Eclipse' and 'Unfold the Sorrow' are hardly memorable. Deathrow (No Regrets) offers us the familiar formula of keyboards and guitars that create the classic haunting Hypocrisy sound, but the rest of the songs suffer from almost, but not quite syndrome. Don't get me wrong, this album rocks just not to the standard we would expect from the Cyberlords. Better than the previous effort but still eclipsed by the awesome 'Final Chapter'. Maybe Pete should wait a little longer between releases and work a bit harder on his material.
Favourite Tracks: Legions Descend, Digital Prophecy, Deathrow (No Regrets)
Mark: 7.5/10

Hypocrisy ‘Catch 22’
Nuclear Blast, 2002
Gloon:
After the first listen of ‘Catch 22’ I had to inspect the cover to make sure that this was indeed a Nuclear Blast release and not instead a Roadrunner album, such was the Americanisation of the music. ‘Catch 22’ seems to be a contradiction of everything Peter Tagtgren was trying to avoid when he shut down Abyss studios. Apparently Pete had, had enough of being a marketing tool and being a corporate figure and felt his integrity and credibility were under scrutiny, if that is the case why then produce an album which is so far from what his band Hypocrisy stands for as an outlet for his frustration and rage. ‘Catch 22’ doesn’t sound like a man angry with the system and wanting to blow off steam, in fact it is so borderline Nu-Metal to be almost an embarrassment to the Hypocrisy name. The whining ‘fuck you, leave me alone, you don’t know me’ sulk which makes up most of the lyrics screams Nu-Metal anguish and made me for once glad that Hypocrisy don’t print their lyrics. The links don’t just stop there however, with the music (though possessing the ghost of Hypocrisy’s famous sound) is beefed up, bass driven and simplified to the point of absolute commercialism. The Fear Factory dirge of ‘A Public Puppet’ and the scary similarities between ‘Turn the Page’ and Slipknot are just two examples of where Hypocrisy have headed with this release. What is the problem you ask? I will confess that I like bands such as Fear Factory and the music as such, on this release isn’t a total waste of time but the real question is should ‘Hypocrisy’ be playing this type of music. There was a big deal made of the bands return to death metal with their last release ‘Into the Abyss’ however this now seems to be forgotten with this half arsed, leashed aggression. I am afraid that Peter Tagtgren has hurt his reputation much more with this, dare I say “The Burning Red’ release than he ever did behind the money making machine that was Abyss Studios. Reviews of this album that I have read so far have been rather understanding and generous, and I too don’t mind the album for what it is. However for a Hypocrisy release, one of the supposed ‘gods of European Death’, well it just doesn’t cut it.
Favourite Tracks - Uncontrolled, Don’t Judge Me.
Rating - 5.5/10
SECOND OPINION
Lord Pale :
Never has the name of the band been so relevant to its frontman . this material is boring and lame , what a nu metal sellout faggot ....
Mark - 3/10

Hypocrisy ‘The Arrival’
Nuclear Blast , 2004
Lord Pale:
Hypocrisy have been in a slump since 1997’s glorious ‘The Final Chapter’, since then they have occasionally hinted at the same magic, but never consistently. With Hypocrisy’s new album The Arrival, all this is about to change! The Arrival is The Final Chapter….2, or something like that. It has the same ominous, low tempo crawlers like ‘Eraser’, ‘Slave To The Parasites’, and ‘The Departure’, as well as faster catchy tracks like ‘Stillborn’, and ‘New World’ that made The Final Chapter such a classic. We are also treated to a remake of the brilliant ‘The Abyss’, a compilation only track that also appeared on The Forth Dimension digipak version. The other three tracks vary from a slow melodic track with creepy keys ‘Born Dead, Buried Alive’, to a more straight forward easy listening death metal piece ‘Dead Sky Dawning’, and another melodic atmospheric and catchy track ‘War Within’. Tatgren’s vocals are in prime form ranging from his unique deathly doom growls, tortured rasps, to more melodic raspy vocals, and even some clean backing vocals similar to ‘Roswell 47’. Little more need be said, this album is a monster and more importantly an equal of The Final Chapter. Stop reading and purchase now, fans and newcomers alike will not be disappointed.
Favourite Tracks – The Departure , Eraser , Stillborn
Mark – 9/10
SECOND OPINION
Gloon:
They're back baby THEY"RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark - 9/10

Hypocrisy ‘Virus’
Nuclear Blast, 2005
Gloon:
Hypocrisy have had quite a few interesting and at times disturbing incarnations over their career from death metal to cyber paranoia to blends of both and more. Virus sees a coming together of a lot of Hypocrisy’s past and present personalities under a central core sound so while stylistically ‘Fearless’ could have come off ‘Catch 22’ its more in tune with say last years ‘The Arrival’. All the things we have come to expect from the band are present from the haunting drone of ‘A Thousand Lies’ to the pace and aggression of ‘Craving For Another Killing’ fans of every era Hypocrisy will find something to satisfy. Theres also the newer elements that have been added like the blackmetal approach of ‘War-Path’ (very Old Mans Child) to the almost Domination era Morbid Angel sludge of ‘Let the Knife Do the Talking’. Most importantly however is the depth, while being a good 10 tracks long Virus never drags its feet or over fills the cup, its quality and captivation from start to end (something that cannot be said of some of their more recent releases). Overall a strong improvement on the song writing and overall ‘effort’ and as result the band have created one of their more solid releases without really creating a Roswell 47 or such to carry it, essential 05 purchase.
Favourite Tracks – War-Path, A Thousand Lies, Fearless
Rating – 8/10