Search - Dragonlord :: Rapture

Not great, but good Thrash Metal !

A. Vera | Sacramento, CA United States | 06/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I really enjoy this album. It's good Thrash Metal with some Power Metal and Black Metal influences. The guitars and drums are strong and the pace is fast with a lot of slower breaks. The vocals are good, but not great. Rapture has an Epic feel to it with longer tracks and some catchy Power Metal guitar riffs. I know there are members of Testament in Dragonlord, but I can't really feel too much resemblance in musical styles. Dragonlord is definitely going for a different sound. While the album goes in a lot of directions, the musicianship is very focused. I feel the keyboards are a little over used and sometimes out of place, but I still think Rapture is a very solid release. I give Rapture 3.5 stars not 4, only because the replay value is only moderate. I'm looking forward to their next release."

Well Worth Your Time...

_Enigma_ | 08/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...If you are a fan of Symphonic Black Metal.



Ah yes, Symphonic Black Metal. It's the genre that bands like Dimmu Borgir and Cradle Of Filth kick-started in the early ninties that soon became saturated with carbon-copies. What makes Dragonlord different? Not much really, it's still Black Metal laced with wonderous keyboard effects and symphonic elements, but this time it's good.



If you took the keyboard arrangements of Dimmu Borgir and mixed them with the thrashy riffs and songwriting style of Testament (In fact, Eric Peterson and Steve Smyth have come from Testament to make this side project) and bulked them up on Black Metal steroids, you wouldn't be too far off. Eric Peterson has even done a Black Metal makeover on his vocals so they sound more "evil". While they aren't the best Black Metal vocals you'll ever hear, they do a fine job. All in all, it's nothing very original, but it's executed very, very well.



Each song is as strong as the next and waste no time kicking your @$$, but there are some standouts. "Unholy Void" starts out the album with a bang as "Vals De La Muerte" (An instrumental opener that's actually great to listen to) draws to a close. The majestic keyboards coupled with brutal Thrash Metal riffs and a spacial atmosphere catch your attention and don't let it go for the rest of the album. "Tradition And Fire" keeps up the pace with another jewel of a song that's unrelenting in it's Symphonic Black Metal awesomeness.



If there was a single to the album, it'd most likely be "Born To Darkness". It's less brutal than the rest and focuses more on keyboard effects than the other songs (although there is an awesome riff near the end that makes mo go into a headbanging fit every time I hear it), and the already sweetend Black Metal cut is topped off with some clean vocals.



"Judgement Failed" is probably my favorite from the album. The blasting riffs kick you off into one hell of a ride that you won't regret taking. The song soon breaks out into the best clean vocals you'll hear from 'Rapture' topping the astonishingly beautiful keyboard effects that's pure captivating ecstasy for the ears, and it's as catchy as hell.



Another highlight is "Spirits In The Mist". The song is sheer symphonic bliss as the guitars lay the background for this song, but one shouldn't complain. The piano verses alone are worth listening to the song for. The whole peice reeks atmosphere and the closing riffs are the most mesmerising works of the album.



The production is excellent. The guitars are thick and punishing, and the drums are blasting and meaty. The bass is audiable enough to hear, although you probably shouldn't expect to hear the bass too often. The keyboards are, as they should be, enough in the background to provide tons of atmosphere, but forefront enough to let you in on their majesty.



So, is this album original? No. But is this album an awesome cut of Symphonic Black Metal? You bet it is. Thirty-five minutes and they don't waste a second delivering killer riff after killer riff. Although it's not the best Black Metal you'll find, it is a worthy and rock-solid investment that's screaming for attention. If you are a fan of Dimmu Borgir, Old Man's Child or any other Symphonic Black Metal band out there, I highly reccomend you give this a chance."

Better than Black Metal!

Cliff | PA, USA | 09/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In this metal-head's humble opinion, Rapture is better than most run of the mill black metal out there (dimmu, etc). Now maybe it's because I love Testament as much as I do, but I think the blend of old school thrash influence w/ the new melody and power of black metal just elevate this album beyond all reproach. I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could. There hasn't been, nor will there be, another album like it, Eric Peterson's influence (from Testamrnt and anywhere else) is key to the sound of this record, and, personally, I think he does an outstanding job on vocals... he's got the growl and scream, and you can actually UNDERSTAND him!!! Excellent album, A++. I can't wait for the next one: Black Wings of Destiny."