Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Clocking in at a whopping 99 minutes, this double disc offering spans ten years worth of previously unreleased, alternate, cover and live tracks. Sometimes compilations like this are a hard listen as you usually get a few decent sounding tunes lumped in with some horrible noise all sold under the "collectors item" guise. Such was not the case with this package. While this material covers ten years worth of music, the sound, for the most part is pretty level no matter what type of tune is playing, enabling you to concentrate on the music contained within instead of reaching for the volume knob. While I'm not talking "crystal clear" production here, everything is listenable considering all aspects of what the original intentions of these songs were recorded for.

Disc 1 contains the rarities and alternate versions and really show-cases the bands diversity as the tunes start out in semi-straight forward black thrash style and move into more epic, grandiose themes at the disc's end. I was impressed at the transition and surprised at how well these tracks flowed together. Disc 2 was used for cover tunes, live tracks (recorded in 1995 and 1997) and closes out with two previously unreleased gems. Just a ton of quality material to turn up and enjoy for the long time fan or a perfect reference-guide to someone just getting into this special band and not knowing exactly where to start. The booklet is nicely done with several pictures, and while the lyrics are not included, there is extensive information about each song such as where the song is from (tribute album, live recording, line-up, producer, studio, etc...)

As we all await the next, long overdue studio release from Absu, "Mythological Occult Metal" will certainly help pass the time better than some thrown together ep most bands conjure up at the eleventh hour...knowing full well 3 or 4 tunes is never enough for metal-hungry fanatics. I like this approach much, much better!!!