"Unlike "Obscura", these songs are more focused and cognizable, perhaps, and they are certainly in the vein of "Obscura", but not quite in the heart of it. Unfortunately, this is one of those outstanding albums that is cursed to forever remain in the shadow of an even more outstanding album that came before it, but as far as follow-ups to ground-breaking albums go, this one just kills!!! This album features bleak, dissonant riffing that either charges at you or meanders along at a plodding pace and thus results in a harmony between the two guitars. More straightforward growls on this one. There's not as much layering or experimentation this time. It is still worth checking out but Obscura is easily their best. Remember that for the untrained listener, Gorguts is not an instantly gratifying band, but their albums are worthy of close attention and repeated listens. Check it out along with Obscura."
A band unmatched
Kevin Lomas | Grayslake, IL | 11/09/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a HUGE fan of Cryptopsy, Nile and Gorgut's "Obscura". In saying that I think that this album might be the pinnacle for "ultra-techincal death metal" or whatever you want to call it. I think it is as close to perfect as an album can be coming from this genre. The music isn't as techincal and crazy as Obscura. However that is a good thing. Obscura I think was Luc Lemay pushing death metal to the absolute extreme (for now) and using his musical education to kick metal in the nuts (Why do you think Gorguts disappeared for 5 years?) He proved his point with Obscura and then planned From Wisdom to Hate. This album is incredible...it isn't because they play extremely techincal but it is that they play melodious, beautiful, brutal, heavy...just addictive music. If you are looking for comparisions to other bands...well...lyrically this album is close to Nile as far as Antiquarian mythos is concerned. Musically however, very original, very catchy, and very, very good. A must have for techincal fans."
Good, but wish it was better
phobos | Berkeley, CA United States | 04/30/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This album probably would have completely blown me away, if it had been by anyone else but Gorguts. But the brilliance of "Obscura," the Gorguts album that came out before this one, completely overshadows any of the material on "From Wisdom..." Categories are often meaningless, but you can see the difference in how they label themselves-- around the time of Obscura they wanted to be called "extreme music," but in the liner notes to this album they seem content to call themselves death metal again. And that's essentially what you get-- very well composed, well played death metal in the Morbid Angel style. Gone are the crazier jazz influences-- they instead turn to classical music for most of their inspiration, which means that this is tasteful and well-composed, but much less experimental. It's good, but lacks originality. This album has more in common with "Erosion of Sanity," the second Gorguts album, which I found pretty boring. The sound isn't too great, which may be part of the problem-- I can tell that opening riff in the first song must be pretty good, for instance, but it sounds to thin and scratchy to really hear what's going on. And the bass, which played an important part in making Obscura so great, is mostly buried in this one."
Twisted
phobos | 10/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"this album..will destroy you. Gorguts is a name known in the realms of death metal, pretty well...but little does anyone know what they are up to these days. this album, and the previous one OBSCURA, are in fact the most mentally disturbing albums i have heard. up there with the SWANS, this band really can cause you to listen. if you truly are open to listening to them, youll either get one of two impressions. you either hate it, or you love it. me, im scared of it, but, its still a record i will not be able to forget. i advise you to look up all you can on Gorguts, and try and dig up their older albums. this band never officially broke up, but after their drummers suicide, i think that caused a great reevaluation within the band. who knows what to expect of this band..."
Gorguts at their best
JNAbraham | Charlotte, NC | 12/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Gorguts is one of those bands that seems only to make an album only if it's going to be some very good work, as opposed to just having a bunch of filler songs and a few good tracks. It's just something about their sound, and those dark sounding, echoing chords with the dissonance that propells them away from conventional death metal,along with some [exceptional]technicality. Buy this now if you want to hear something that you will be listening to for months down the line."