Benediction: Transcend the Rubicon / The Dreams You Dread [Double Reissue]

Here's another one of those Benediction reissues that combines two early albums into one package. In this case, you get two of the band's classic releases on gold CDs in a nice digipak setting. I commented on these reissues a little more in my review of the first double release from this band. Going through these albums in chronological order is amazing. I get to hear "Barney" Greenway's vocals on the first album and then move on to Dave Ingram's dark rasp. I also get to hear the band's songwriting skills advance from album to album.

On Transcend the Rubicon, the band is still largely following the formula—with some variations—that worked so well for them on the first two releases. All the songs are solid but they show off more rhythmic variation and feature some excellent drumming. I'm not sure which album is my favorite of the bunch, but Transcend the Rubicon is certainly one of the best. I especially like "Painted Skulls" and "Wrong Side of the Grave."

The Dreams You Dread is even darker than the previous three albums. The music is reflects the mood by moving more slowly and giving more space for the vocals. Things also sound a little tighter as the band takes its tempo in a direction that needs the guitars, bass, and drums to set up the sludgy pace and mood. Lyrically, the themes often cover (as the title suggests) some nightmarish perspectives on madness, murder, and mayhem. Although I missed the endless rounds of 16th notes from the drums, I admired the band's willingness to stretch themselves in its songwriting and overall sound. However it mixed things up, this band never sacrificed heaviness to appeal to wider audiences. They remained committed to the best death metal they could muster. And it always sounds pretty great. Check out "Denial" and "Where Flies are Born."

I wish some of the more popular metal bands took the 90s by storm the way Benediction did.

Track Listing:

Transcend the Rubicon

1. Unfound Mortality
2. Nightfear
3. Paradox Alley
4. I Bow to None
5. Painted Skulls
6. Violation Domain
7. Face Without Soul
8. Bleakhouse
9. Blood From Stone
10. Wrong Side of the Grave
11. Artefacted / Spit Forth
12. Saneless Theory (Live bonus track)
13. Deadfall (Live bonus track)

Track Listing:

The Dreams You Dread
1. Down on Whores (Leave Them All for Dead)
2. Certified . . . ?
3. Soulstream
4. Where Flies are Born
5. Answer to Me
6. Griefgiver
7. Denial
8. Negative Growth
9. Path of the Serpent
10. Saneless Theory
11. The Dreams You Dread

Added: February 18th 2016
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
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Language: english

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