Search - Burn the Priest :: Burn the Priest (Rmx)

Burn the Priest is b-b-b-brutal

A. Stutheit | Denver, CO USA | 07/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Randy Blythe, Abe Spear, Mark Morton, John Campbell, and Chris Adler formed a band called Burn the Priest in 1998, and released this, their first full length album, in 1999. Then they dropped Abe, replaced him with Willie Adler (Chris' brother) and changed their name to Lamb of God (probably to appeal to a broader audience). Five or six years ago, Burn the Priest were almost unheard of; but now any metalhead should know who they are.



Due to the success that Lamb of God have had, they re-released Burn the Priest's self-titled debut. If you thought "As the Palaces Burn" was brutal, you'll have to think of a different adjective for this band. You'll immediately know that this album is nothing short of a furious, all-out onslaught. It is simply relentless and extreme metal.



You may make some comparisons to "New American Gospel," but if I heard this C.D. without knowing Lamb of God's history, I would have never guessed this was them. First of all, it is about five times heavier than L.o.G. and about two times darker. Next, Chris Adler's constant double bass drumming is missing-or it's not AS constant, at least. And finally, Randy's vocals are different. He still summons his guttural death metal growls, but he lays down an equal amount of VERY high pitched, throat straining yells. Sometimes, he even switches back and forth (between the two vocal techniques) in the same song (i.e. in track eight). This C.D. is pretty unique, but if I had to compare it to some other bands, I'd say it's like a cross of Behemoth, Black Dahlia Murder, and Heaven Shall Burn.



"Bloodletting" is (especially the beginning) very freaky and startling. It has flattening drum work and non-stop, uncompromising guitar riffs, but what really makes the listener's ears bleed is Randy's blood curdling, almost emo-like shrieking, which begins as soon as you hit the PLAY button.

"Dimera" has a pounding beat with bobbing riffs and Randy's vocals are deeper here than they were on track one. And near the end of the song, he lets loose an extended, descending bellow.

"Resurrection #9" has thunderous double bass drumming and more shrill battle cries. There's a tempo change, making the beat even faster, but it slows way down (while remaining equally as heavy) by the end.

"Goatfish" is forcefully heavy and blindingly fast. The drums are first crashing, but then they become crushing, and some more retching yells are included. This is one of the many tracks on here that sounds like Chris is using a sledgehammer instead of drum sticks.

"Lies of Autumn" has slower, churning riffs, before the drums kick in, speeding the beat way up. There is some cascading riffs and furious drumming, but the song eventually changes to bobbing riffs and staccato vocals. It speeds up again, back to its first speed, to end the song.

"Chronic Auditory Hallucination" begins with a sprinting beat, which consists of white hot riffs and iron metal bass drums. This song eventually becomes a stop-start beat with inhuman vocals.

"Preaching to the Converted" is almost deafening. It begins with booming riffs, before the guitars change to echo Sepultura (a la their "Arise" album), and a driving double bass is also included. Plus, Randy, of course, rattles his vocal chords to release some roars which are both high and low pitched.

"Ruiner" charges ahead with the usual impenetrable wall of sound, but this song is a highlight because of the two mini guitar solos.



So, there's still a ringing in my ears. From beginning to end, this disc is skull-rattling and speaker shredding. Every song and every beat pummels you and beats you down. This is an impenetrable wall of sound if I've ever heard one. There are no slow beginnings and no soft outros or interludes, so there is no relief. Every song is as punishing as the last.



Since this album was previously discontinued, and since all of the band members were fairly young when they were originally in this band, I didn't expect much when I first listened to this C.D. I expected it to be not very far removed from the other Lamb of God albums. I had no idea it was going to be this heavy, and I also had no idea it would be better than "New American Gospel." But it is!



What I don't understand is why this album isn't more popular. Some Lamb of God fans must not know about it, because if they did, they'd be sure to pick it up. I do not recommend this C.D. to the faint hearted; but if you're a fan of turbo-charged, often deafening hardcore metal, this is for you."

Solid re-discovery of a lost gem

N. Durham | Philadelphia, PA | 03/28/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Before they were Lamb of God, there was Burn the Priest; and the band name alone should tell what you're in for when you pop this disc in. The first thing you'll notice is that the music and vocals and far more death metal-esque tuned than anything the gang has released as Lamb of God, and it's all the better for it. Standout tracks like "Bloodletting", "Resurrection #9", and "Ruiner" are great, and will even have old time metal heads banging their heads in approval. The only downside of Burn the Priest is that it's over too short, and in that short time it loses steam towards the end of it's second half; which hurt the overall package. Not to mention that while this album features some amazing double bass drum assaults and roaring vocals, this isn't as "brutal" as previous reviewers are making it out to be, but despite all that, this is still great. If you're a Lamb of God fan, you'll no doubt eat this up, and for the rest of us, this is a solid re-discovery of a lost gem."

Awe inpiring.

S. Sra | Yigo Andersen AFB Guam | 09/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is perhaps the most vicious CD I have ever listened too. When I put it in I was expecting LOG to give me some sort of intro. No intro, you press play and its like setting off a car bomb. Favorite song? Chronic Auditory Hallucinations after the first listen it was immedialty put at the top as my favorite LOG song. I was hypnotized, it was truly startling. May not be perfect, but as most would agree, still way ahead of the rest."