Review of "Waves of Visual Decay" by Communic
By golly, they did it again.
Communic's debut was one of the best heavy metal releases ever to come out of Norway, and was also one o
| Discography |
| Conspiracy In Mind | 2005.02.21 |
| Waves of Visual Decay | 2006.05.19 |
f 2005's absolute premier albums. I was therefore a tad anxious to hear that Oddleif and the gang were up to it again, less than a year than the release of their predecessor. Had they rushed it? Had the pressure for a fast follow-up caught up with them?
Thankfully all of these doubts are pushed aside the second Under A Luminous Sky pours out of my speakers, a track that instantly got stuck in my brain many hours after I first heard it. The distinct change I at once noticed ('specially evident in the album's two first tracks) was the slightly more heavy and agressive approach the band had chosen, and the riffing at times almost touches thrashy ground. Yet, the soaring Warrel Dane-like
vocals of Oddleif are always present to even out the mix, creating a perfect blend between the highly melodic and the refreshingly agressive. One of the debut's main traits was the mixture of calm, soothing acoustic parts and the already mentioned heavy and fast bits. Watching It All Disappear is a perfect example to portray this (check out the resemblance to Helloween's "Time" in the opening seconds) , and it so far stands out as my ultimate favourite off the album. The production of the album is this time around close to absolute perfection, especially the drums and guitars sound have been given a raw and heavy crunch I enjoy very much. Waves of Visual Decay is, as the band's debut was, an album that has the ability to grow and grow for each listen. The variety of their sound is so extensive that I still manage to discover whole new bits and parts, even after 12-15 listens, a trait that should intrigue every follower of the progressive part of heavy metal.
The reviews of the album have so far been extraordinary, and as you may see, I can only join in on the praise. The album has been voted album of the month in several zines, and since Communic are now signed to Nuclear Blast, I can't find a single reason why the band won't make it big across the globe. I for one am surely looking forward to seeing them live at RagnaRock in August, and I surely recommend everyone to catch them if you have the opportunity.
Communic is a band that deserves the attention, and they also deserve that you both check out and buy Waves of Visual Design. Together with Keep of Kalessin's Armada, this is surely the highlight of the year for me so far.
Rating: 92/100
Written by Ole Kristian Mastadøy
See details on this album