Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Dissection - Reinkaos - 2006 - The End Records

Track Listing1. Nexion 218 2. Beyond The Horizon 3. Starless Aeon 4. Black Dragon 5. Dark Mother Divine 6. Xeper-I-Set 7. Chaosophia 8. God Of Forbidden Light 9. Reinkaos 10. Internal Fire 11. Maha Kali

2006 continues to be a stellar year with release after release of great, genre defining metal that pushes the envelope in terms of originality and purpose. Now Dissection have hit the stage, jerking wide the curtain that has kept them in the dark and out of reach for ten years. "Reinkaos" marks the band's new beginning, a glorious return to the metal scene after tragedy and controversy surrounding founding member Jon Nodtveidt. In December of 1997 Nodtveidt was sentenced to ten years for murder. This album has been in the "creation" phase for almost ten years, all developing behind the steel curtain that held Nodtveidt and the rest of Dissection from continuing forward. Nodtveidt was released in 1994 and began immediately recruiting new members for his ascension back into the extreme metal world.

Aligning himself with Set Teitan (guitars) and Tomas Asklund (drums), this three piece ride their dark steeds across the frozen tundra on another musical journey. Much like "Storm Of The Light's Bane", this is yet another triumphant battle cry for extreme metal. I, personally, feel that this new Dissection release is far superior to the albums before it and really takes the extreme music persona to new places musically. This is one of the best albums I've heard out of this genre and could be a contender for album of the year. It is that impressive, that inspiring, and all encompassing in it's epic delivery and magnitude. This is a masterpiece of dark emotions and sinister scores, however it goes beyond the normal rip and tear of extreme madness. Yes, this is a new step for the band and a brand new dawn. The 2006 version of Dissection is more about melody and slower tempos, sacrificing speed for a serious attempt at accessibility. This is the extreme band that I like. This is the album that I knew Dissection was capable of producing. "Reinkaos" is truly a spiritual journey that leaves behind a distinct and commanding presence that few bands can even attempt to understand.

Many intelligent, genre defining bands have crossed over from the extreme metal confines to the wide valleys of harmony and melody. You can look at acts like Paradise Lost, Sentenced, and even Amorphis as fine examples of changing times. All three of those bands left behind their rather immature speed fests and cookie monster vocals in search of mature songwriting and more epic, melodic song structures. Ladies and gentlemen, Dissection are the next big band to cross the threshold. This new offering and new effort from the Swedes moves into the areas occupied by In Flames/Sentenced/Dark Tranquility circa the mid-90s. This new Dissection is firmly built around catchy songs, huge melodies, and beautiful leads and passages. While the vocals still remain rooted in the black metal forests, the tracks themselves are much more diversified. Within this masterful creation, this awe inspiring effect, comes a great sense of purpose and atmosphere, a calling card if you will for musical inspiration and wonder. This is the moment of truth, a career crossroads that finds this band on the right side of the dirt path, approaching a gateway that will lead into new heights of popularity.

This album is just filled to the max with dark, delicious melody that evokes images of foggy fields under a moon lit sky. These frosty depths breed sinister urges like "Nexion 218", the perfect chilling opener to invoke this musical depravity. The opener reminds me of those gloomy, darkened corners occupied by early Candlemass. This instrumental could be the perfect nightmare score to your favorite Hammer Horror film. From there things progress into clean, crisp, mid to low tempo thrash that isn't far removed from today's version of Venom. It is tracks like this and "Xeper-I-Set" that showcase the aggressive side of Dissection, although it is far more slower and "creepy" in comparison to "Storm Of The Light's Bane" and "The Somberlain". Internet first single "Starless Aeon" is a smooth, calculated fantasy that comes to life with a well crafted understanding of power metal, all neatly built around beautiful and well placed leads. "Black Dragon" is quite possibly one of the finest metal outputs my ears have ever heard, with it's huge intro and lead playing creating what might be the first truly epic moment for extreme metal. This one minute affair could be compared to the likes of the early harmony parts of "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "Kill The King", or the huge beefy part of "Last In Line". It is that important, that inspirational, and that moving. I damn those who can't find purpose or understanding in that "METAL MOMENT". That display is just monstrous, a true legendary moment that sums up the spirit of metal. The lead mid-ways through just smokes before blasting into a solid thrash rhythm on par with early Metallica or Megadeth. Other tracks follow this same melodic routine, highlights being "Gods Of Forbidden Light" with it's early In Flames nod as well as "Kaha Kali", the perfect ending firestorm that reinforces just how important this album is.

Bottom Line - This is huge folks. Be a part of this before it is too late. "Reinkaos" is quite possibly one of the best records of our time and needs metal fans like you to relay that message to an uncaring world.



--EC 05.16.06