In our ongoing investigation of deceptive and outright fraudulent extreme metal acts, we pull the rug under a handful of established outfits that don’t even seem to bother hiding that they are after your money first, artistic integrity a distant second - an audience satisfaction not even registering. The more we pull away the blinds the more obvious these practices become. Maybe your favorite band is in here, maybe your life-long inspiration only cares about the dollars/euros you’re giving him/her? Don’t be fooled, there are plenty of honest, hard-working metal bands everywhere in the scene. It’s just that these money-hungry, artistically vacuum units make it difficult for everybody involved. These bands stopped caring, they lost the passion and fire. In short: they Sold Their Souls...
I had some material done already before the demise of Lord Belial. Some of the material was actually intended for the next Lord Belial album, but since we disbanded I changed around all of the ideas into new songs.
I don’t really consider it that much superior. But we KEPT the quality from 1st to 4th album, and that is something that is not easy to do! And I think there will come a 5th album that will kick just as much ass.
Good things come to those who wait is an old adage that rings especially true to US death metal act Amon. This is the first new batch of Hoffman written material since the 2004 Deicide album “Scars Of the Crucifix” and their subsequent unceremonious parting of ways with that band in 2006. Teaming up with journeyman bassist/vocalist Jesse Jolly (ex-Diabolic, ex-Success Will Write Apocalypse Across The Sky) and relative unknown drummer Mike Petrak (ex-SWWAATS) Brian and Eric have revived Amon - the shortlived act they formed with Steve Asheim (Deicide, Order Of Ennead) prior to Glen Benton joining the ranks and opting a name change to Deicide in lieu of their signing to Roadrunner Records in the early 1990’s - to showcase their take on classic Florida death metal. Any comeback is difficult, but returning under the moniker of a demo band last active nearly two decades ago isn’t working to the duo’s advantage either. Since 2004 a lot in the death metal scene has changed. Young acts (Abhordium, Brain Drill, Cattle Decapitation, Faust, Hour Of Penance, Near Death Condition, Obscura, Psycroptic) have given the genre a new shot of adrenaline due to the inclusion of impressive technical skill, the old school institutions (Aurora Borealis, Cannibal Corpse, Immolation, Malevolent Creation, Monstrosity, Nile, Suffocation, Vital Remains) prove relevant as ever while the more underground peers (Cianide, Coffin Texts, Deceased, Funerus, Gorgasm, Master, Nunslaughter, Sathanas) carry on unphased. A select few have hit creative roadblocks or try to salvage what’s left from their once respectable careers (Cryptopsy, Diabolic, Morbid Angel, Obituary). Frontman Jessy ‘Jechael’ Jolly roars with the best of them, regularly channeling Jason Avery (Eulogy, ex-Monstrosity) and Steve Tucker (ex-Morbid Angel, Nader Sadek). His 7-string bass work is somewhat buried under the thick but clear guitar tone, but feels more than commendable. Hopefully we’ll hear some more engaging bass lines on future recordings. Drummer Mike Petrak combines technical chops with tasteful footwork that doesn’t rely on constant blasting. A couple of well-placed fills, cymbal hits and ominous rolls add a lot of diversity to his attack. On the one hand “Liar In Wait” sounds incredibly modern and technical, while beneath the surface this is the Hoffmans doing what they’ve always done; just amped and sped up to a considerable degree. This album sounds invigorating and familiar (just listen to the chord progressions and overall delivery) at the same time, as this is what Deicide could have sounded like shouldn’t they have hit the interpersonal and creative differences that derailed them so famously in the late 1990s. This new Amon might not necessarily be the most brutal or technical thing out there, as it isn’t the second coming of “Dechristianize”, “Here In After” or “Legion” to any extent, but its traditional sound is a welcome breath of fresh air. We can only hope that Amon is able to capitalize on this album’s strength and return to the studio sooner rather than later. If only a courageous distributor or reputable label would release it officially internationally...http://amon.mobicomment itWouter 7
