Retribution (Retribution - Malevolent Creation)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Retribution - Malevolent Creation
Date:	30/12/08 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Aggressive old-school death metal.

Disadvantages: May seem primitive in retrospect.

A staple of extreme metal top-ten lists from those in the know (and with too much time on their hands), Malevolent Creation's second album is certainly their finest work, an artistic and sonic improvement over its predecessor, but it has perhaps tended to be over-hyped by the death metal elite. It's a very good album, but doesn't accomplish as much as the best from the band's contemporaries.

The music varies in tempo to keep things interesting throughout, with only a couple of songs such as 'Monster' maintaining a consistent speed, and the full-pelt drum, guitar and vocal work is very impressive... as is the bass, for the few seconds it's actually audible. The production job is perfect for a death metal album, enveloping the listener in its sheer nastiness without pushing them away or seeking to crush their eardrums, and each song lasts for an appropriate length of time to remain ultimately satisfying.

Ultimately, this is a great album for those who wish to immerse themselves in some aural violence for thirty minutes, but not so appealing for those who would prefer to pick out individual songs. There are certainly songs here that stand strong, but it's usually down to a gimmick such as the solo of 'Slaughter of Innocence' or increased aggression of the finale 'Iced.'

Summary: Malevolent Creation's second album (1992).