This is part one of a double album that was recorded at the same time but released with time apart. It's the 1st album to feature Zach Cooper on bass replacing longtime member Michael Todd who had been charged for armed robbery in 2011. Also drummer Chris Pennie who had played with the band since 2007 quit and was replaced by former drummer Josh Eppard. Eppard had not played with the band since 2005.

I relly love the cover which suits the mystique and progressive pop, soul, rock and hardrock that this bands stands for. It's quite easylistening even though it's complicated and difficult music. They manage to get it together somehow. The record reached nr. 5 on the Billboard charts in the USA.

1)The hollow (-) Intro.

2)Key entity extraction I: Domino the destitute (8,5) Impressive progressive hardrock the way it should be made.

3)The afterman (5,0) Boring afternoon radiomusic.

4)Mothers of men (8,5) Easy-listening but damn good hardrock!

5)Goodnight fair lady (7,0) Very very much Thin Lizzy about this straight rocker.
6)Key entity extraction II: Holly wood the cracked (7,5)

7)Key entity extraction III: Vic the butcher (6,5) A bit too noisy.

8)Key entity extraction IV: Evagria the faithful (7,5) Some kind of ballad in progressive version.

9)Subtraction (4,0) Simple computer-ballad.

Score: 6,81

Claudio Sanchez-vocals, guitars and electric piano (b.1978)

Travis Stever-guitars (b.1978)

Zach Cooper-bass

Josh Eppard-drums and keyboards (b.1979)

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John Medeski-piano, synthesizer and clavinet

Daniel Sedownick-percussion

Death-metalband from the Netherlands with their 8th album. The last came in 2009 and during this time singer van Drunen (who sang in Pestilence in the 1980's) recorded and album with the all-star death metalband Hail Of Bullets in 2010.

This is old-school death, which means powerful, heavy, slow and fast, insane growl and clear and hearable instruments playing. This is as far as I go when it comes to heavy music. I like superheavy riffing and pounding drums and old school death has just that. Asphyx makes it well enough but I'd like better songs. It tends to get a bit boring and the growl isn't the best I've heard but works good in the faster songs.

1)Into the timewastes (8,0)

2)Deathhammer (7,0)

3)Minefield (5,0)

4)Of days when blades turned blunt (6,5)

5)Der landser (6,0)

6)Reign of the brute (6,5)

7)The flood (6,0)

8)We doom you to death (5,5)

9)Despa crabro (6,0)

10)As the magma mammoth rises (4,5)

Score: 6,10

Martin van Drunen-vocals (b.1966)

Paul Baayens-guitars

Alwin Zuur-bass

Bob Bagchus-drums