Search - Eighteen Visions :: The Best of Eighteen Visions

Brings Back Some Good Memories

LeftManOut | TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL | 11/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well first off I should go ahead and let you know that this is not a greatest hits album or anything like that, nor is it Eighteen Visions' sophomore album. This album is actually a collection of re-recorded songs from their first ep, first album, and first 7 Inch, which were all long out of print and very hard to find. Even though these aren't really "new" songs, this record easily has the strength of any album 18V has released, simple because the songs are so good. There's also one new song entitled "Motionless And White", which showed the direction Eighteen Visions' would be taking on their next album "Vanity". 18V titled the album "The Best Of" as sort of a joke, because they never thought they would be big enough to have a "Greatest Hits" record, or anything of that nature (kind of ironic because now they are so big). However just because this album is not new material, it is a worthwhile purchase because it gives you a good taste of 18V's roots and how far the band has come in their nearly ten year existence.



"Motionless And White", which is the only new song on the album, rightfully leads the cd off, and is a widely renowned fan favorite. It showed hints of the new sound 18V was developing for their later record "Vanity", but it is still brutal and crushing, and it's an amazing song. After that the cd takes a trip down memory lane with "Russian Roulette" (originally entitled "Russian Roulette With A Trigger Happy Manic Depressive") and you will get the idea of how much punch these songs pack. If you're looking for more of a melodic nature, and a lot of clean vocals and such, this record will probably be a big surprise to you, because there aren't any. James occasionally does some spoken word bits (ala Poison The Well), but for the most part his vocals are nothing but screams. And that's not a bad thing. This is the best James' screams have ever sounded on a record, and it really gives songs like "Isola In The Rain" and "Diana Gone Wrong" that much needed power behind them. There's plenty of breakdowns and metal technicality, which will instantly strike a chord with older fans. "Raping.Laughing.Tasting.Temptation" and "Dead Rose are brutal compositions that fans of the band will fall in love with. The songs they chose to re-record were definitely the best of each of the respected releases they come from, and if you're unfamiliar with them, here's a quick list of what's been compiled on this release:



"Diana Gone Wrong", "Russian Roulette" and "Isola In The Rain" are from the "No Time For Love" 7 Inch, originally released on Trustkill Records in 1999.



"Slipping Through The Hands Of God" and "Life's Blood" are from the "Lifeless" Ep, originally released on Life Sentence Records in 1997.



"The Psychotic Thought", "Old Wyoming Song", "Raping.Lauging.Tasting.Temptation", "Five O Six A.M, Three-Fifteen", and "Dead Rose" are from their first full length "Yesterday Is Time Killed", originally released on Cedargate Records in 1998.



Like I said all the original sources for the songs have long been out of print, but if you can manage to track down a copy of each one, they are a great addition to this cd, because you can really hear how superior these versions of the songs are to the originals. This cd is still one of my personal favorites from the band (then again I love all their cds) and I think most fans of the band will find something about this cd to like. If you're into their more "Obsession" sound, you might want to sample the record a bit before purchasing, because it is VERY different from the sound the band now maintains. My personal favorites are "Isola In The Rain", "Dead Rose" and "Motionless And White", which really embody the record, so I would recommend checking those out before you buy. Otherwise I wouldn't be without this great release if you're an Eighteen Visions' fan or a fan or metalcore/hardcore. This is definitely not a cd for casual listening. However you will definitely have one less good cd in your collection if you don't own this one. And remember "If you're not going to ride the rocket, then get the f*ck off"."

Truly the BEST OF Eighteen Visions

Ash | Kenosha, WI USA | 02/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eighteen Vision's sophomore release will BLOW YOUR MIND! The songs are packed with bone-shattering breakdowns and merciless screaming. They really did a good job on this album and sound roughly like old Norma Jean. You'll deeply regret it if you pass up the chance to get this 18V album. It's not like a greatest hits album, but the title stays true. If you're looking for something like their new Obsession album, stay away from this one, because this was when they weren't pop and teenie boppers didnt listen to them. This cd is for when you're pissed off and want to scream your lungs out."