Bring Forth Purgatory
Despite having been around since 1998 and releasing seven studio albums since then, Bleeding The New Apocalypse (Cum Victriciis In Manibus Armis) was my introduction to The Project Hate MCMXCIX. Although I sincerely regret not checking out this fantastic band before their eighth album, this is a perfect example of an applicable situation for the phrase "better late than never". If you're not allergic to Swedish melodic death metal with progressive and industrial touches, Bleeding The New Apocalypse (Cum Victriciis In Manibus Armis) is an album you'll definitely want to look into. The Project Hate MCMXCIX manages to seamlessly mix brutality and beauty without coming across as one of those wannabe modern death metal acts. I can't say I was expecting anything less than excellent when I took a glance at the star-studded lineup, but I can now confidently conclude that many, if not all, of my expectations were succeeded. From the excellent mix from the legendary Dan Swanö to the tight musicianship and memorable compositions, virtually everything about this album is excellent. Highly recommended to all open-minded metal fans!
The music on Bleeding The New Apocalypse (Cum Victriciis In Manibus Armis) is firmly rooted in the Swedish melodeath scene, though there are plenty of experimentations outside of that genre. The most obvious example is the frequent industrial interludes with programmed drums and synthesizers. Another obvious influence in The Project Hate MCMXCIX's music is from progressive rock/metal. All of the songs here are rather long - the shortest is just under 9 minutes, and the longest is over 13 minutes. Every song has multiple sections with mood changes and symphonic tendencies; I'm actually reminded a bit of Crimson II-era Edge of Sanity from that respect. And finally, the female vocals from Ruby Roque add a bit of a gothic tinge to Bleeding The New Apocalypse (Cum Victriciis In Manibus Armis). All in all, this is not an album for death metal purists, but people who enjoy most of the metal spectrum should love every minute of this. Of course, as you should expect from a "semi-supergroup" of this caliber, the musicians are excellent. I especially have to applaud Lord K. Philipson for the excellent performances on so many instruments.
The mix/mastering from Dan Swanö is really excellent. Unisound has been quite busy lately, and I can confidently say that almost everything coming out of that studio impresses me in one way or another. The sound is absolutely perfect on Bleeding The New Apocalypse (Cum Victriciis In Manibus Armis), so kudos to Dan for creating yet another killer production!
Conclusion:
Bleeding The New Apocalypse (Cum Victriciis In Manibus Armis) impressed me since the first time I heard it, and repeated listens haven't diminished that feeling in the slightest. Although the overall sound here will undoubtedly turn off death metal purists, open-minded metalheads should find a lot to enjoy here. It looks like we already have an early contender for one of the top extreme metal albums of 2011! 4 big stars are well-deserved here. If you've been missing out on these guys (as I had been), now's the time to give them a spin!
Track Listing
1. Iesus Nazarenus, Servus Mei
2. They Shall All Be Witnesses
3. A Revelation Of Desecrated Heavens
4. Summoning Majestic War
5. The Serpent Crowning Ritual
6. Bring Forth Purgatory
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